The Asheville Tourists earned their series split with the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Sunday afternoon with a 9-6 triumph at McCormick Field. Asheville jumped out to a big lead and held on late for the win.
The two teams exchanged runs early in the game before Michael Sandle crushed a two-run home run to left field in the bottom of the second. Sandle added another two-run homer in the third inning right after Tommy Sacoo Jr. connected with an RBI single.
The Tourists increased their lead to 8-1 in the fourth thanks to back-to-back RBI hits from Miguel Palma and Ryan Wrobleski. Later in the inning, Palma was hurt attempting to score on a flyout to centerfield and had to leave the game.
Wilmington had no answer for Asheville’s Deylen Miley. The right-handed pitcher worked five innings and struck out six. It was Miley’s second win of the season. Valente Bellozo pitched the final four innings to record a save; however, it was a rocky outing for the Tourists reliever.
The Blue Rocks plated two runs in the sixth, two in the seventh, and one more in the eighth. Bellozo did pitch a scoreless ninth to close out the game and Sacco’s late solo Home Run helped keep the lead with Asheville.
Sacco finished 3-for-3 while Sandle and Wrobleski each had two hits. Logan Cerny reached base four times and scored twice in the victory.
Visit the Asheville Tourists website for upcoming games and tickets.
Written by Doug Maurer, Asheville Tourists.