Asheville, NC – On Wednesday night, the Asheville Tourists took on the Greenville Drive in the series opener. Michael Knorr started the game for Asheville. In the first inning, he showed off some of his plus stuff flashing a 97 MPH fastball and a wipeout changeup that generated at least four swings and misses. Unfortunately he left two balls over the plate that were hit for solo HRs as the Drive took a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first inning, the Tourists offense would rally. With one out, Tim Borden singled to center. After a Clifford strikeout, Ryan Wrobleski and Collin Price delivered back to back RBI doubles to tie the game at 2.
Knorr would go two more innings without allowing a run as he racked up 4 strikeouts. Overall, a good outing from the 2022 3rd round pick. Carlos Calderon relieved Knorr and pitched in one inning striking out 2 but allowing a 2 run HR as Greenville took the lead.
In the bottom of the 4th, Asheville got the 2 runs back on a Jacob Melton 2 run HR, and it was absolutely demolished. McCormick Field isn’t big by any means, but this homer would have been out anywhere. The announced distance on the homer was 466 feet.
Brayan De Paula came on to pitch the 5th inning and this is where things unraveled. De Paula allowed 3 hits, walked 3 and hit a batter. The only out retired while he was in was on a caught stealing from Price at third base. He was eventually pulled for Franny Cobos who would get out of the inning, but not before all inherited runners scored. Greenville would take an 11-4 lead.
The offense tried to rally. In the bottom of the 5th inning they got solo HRs from Collin Price and Tommy Sacco. Price’s homer was estimated at 446 feet. He had some really good swings on the night.
Cobos tossed 3 scoreless innings after that and Max Roberts tossed a scoreless 9th. The offense was quiet the rest of the way and were unable to complete the comeback as they dropped the series opener, 11-6.
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