The Asheville Tourists are in a pretty incredible stretch. Asheville has won three games on walk-off hits in the past week.
On Sunday afternoon the Tourists trailed the Rome Braves 7-6 entering the bottom of the ninth. Terrin Vavra led off the frame with a game-tying home run and three batters later Willie MacIver hit a two-run home run to give Asheville the win 9-7.
Asheville walked off in all three of their wins this series. The walk-off on Sunday was Asheville’s eighth of the season. MacIver’s walk-off home run was just the second walk-off long ball this year; the other came on Greg Jones ‘ grand slam on July 1.
The Tourists went to work early off Rome’s starter Jose Olague. Asheville plated three runs in the first inning that included RBI hits from Coco Montes and MacIver. Vavra knocked in a run in the second with a double and Kyle Datres drove in a run in the third with a double down the left field line. MacIver added an RBI single in the fifth as well.
Rome managed to hang close despite Asheville’s early offense. The Braves tied the score on three separate occasions before taking their first lead in the eighth. Asheville finished with 16 hits in the game. Vavra, Montes, MacIver, and Datres all had three-hit games. Niko Decolati added two hits to the mix.
Alexander Martinez earned the win with a scoreless top of the ninth. Colten Harlow and Raymells Rosa combined to chew up three innings out of Asheville’s bullpen.
Visit www.milb.com/asheville for additional information and to view the Tourists’ upcoming schedule.
Written by Doug Maurer / Asheville Tourists.