Post All-Star Game Skid

The Tourists broke out of their post all-star game slump yesterday with a 4-1 win over the Rome Braves. The Tourists have come out cold at the plate in their first four games and only have only hit one homerun in that span, that by catcher Ryan Casteel, in yesterdays win. Only one homerun in four games at McCormick is a power slump and a half. A strong 8 innings by starter Chris Jensen (7-2) sealed the deal and closer Jefri Hernandez pitched a perfect ninth for his 10th save.

The All-Star Break

The Asheville Tourists rolled into the All-Star break at 47-23, claimed the Southern Division Title for the First Half of the season, and guaranteed themselves a spot in the playoffs. They put five players in the All-Star game, First Baseman Harold Riggins won the Homerun hitting contest, and this might be the best pitching, top-to-bottom, that the Tourists have had in quite a while. When a team in the low minors has this much success you have to wonder when the parent club is going to make some changes. The Colorado Rockies promoted Outfielder Delta Cleary, Jr., to Class A (Advanced) Modesto and sent outfielder Chandler Laurent from Modesto back to Asheville. Cleary was batting over .300 with 14 Stolen Bases and made the All-Star team. Laurent hit 15 Homeruns with the Tourists last year but was struggling at Modesto batting only .177. The Tourists got power for speed in that exchange. Cleary was also stellar defensively and I saw him make a ESPN worthy catch, leaping high up against the Centerfield fence, about three weeks ago. The Second Half of the season begins tonight against the Rome Braves with Thirsty Thursday.

On A Roll

I finally got to go to my second Asheville Tourists game of the year on Thirsty Thursday, May 31st. Manager Joe Mikulik has the Tourists playing great baseball. They are getting timely hitting and solid pitching and are trying to run away with the first half title in the Southern Division in the South Atlantic League. The Tourists won this game 11-3. Tourists starter Ben Alsup (7-1) gritted his way thru 7 innings, giving up 3 runs and getting out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the 7th inning. Delta Cleary, Jr., and Sam Mende drove in 3 runs a piece and Catcher Will Swanner hit the games only homerun, a line drive shot over the right centerfield fence.