Stolz's Career Day

Asheville Tourists Shortstop Jason Stolz drove in a season high five runs with a bases clearing double over the Centerfielder's head in the fourth inning and a 2 RBI triple in the eighth inning. He also scored the winning run on Second Baseman Zach Osborne's RBI single with the next batter. Third Baseman Matt Argyropoulos went 4 for 4 with 2 runs scored. Tourists Manager Fred Ocasio shiffted the defensive lineup around a little bit as he had Jason Stolz at Shortstop, Zach Osborne at Second, and Matt Argyropoulos at Third. Newcomer David Bergin, who also had two hits, operated out of the Designated Hitter spot in the lineup. Tourists starter Ben Hughes went 6 innings, gave up 5 runs, 4 earned, and two homeruns but did not factor in the decision. Reliever Alving Mejias pitched two scoreless innings to get the win (5-5). Closer Raul Fernandez pitched a scoreless ninth to get his team leading 16th save.

The Last Thirsty Thursday Of The Season

I made it to the first Thirsty Thursday of the season (although it was a rain out) and I made it to the final one last night. In last night's final edition, the Tourists were victorious over the Hickory Crawdads 7-4. I was very interested to see the Crawdads because of all of the power numbers they were putting up and in that respect, they did not disappoint. Tourists starter Matt Flemer held the big bats of the Crawdads without a hit for 4 1/3 innings until an error by Shortstop Zach Osborne put a man on first and Crawdads First Baseman Kevin Torres followed that with a homerun to right field that bounced off the top of the fence and over for the Crawdads first hit and a 2-0 lead. The Tourists came storming back in the bottom of the fifth with 5 runs of their own, led by a leadoff homerun by Third Baseman Jason Stolz, his third of the year. The Tourists scored two more in the bottom of the sixth for a 7-2 lead. Flemer went 6 2/3 innings, giving up 2 runs and 1 earned run, with 11 strikeouts. He kept the Crawdads off balance with a great curveball and a sneaky fastball. Reliever Alving Mejias came on in relief and gave up back-to-back homeruns to a couple of the Crawdads big bombers in the top of the eighth. Catcher Jorge Alfaro hit his 14th and Third Baseman Joey Gallo hit his league leading 31st on the season. Gallo's homerun had to be one of the longest I have ever seen hit at McCormick Field. It cleared the bank of lights behind the right field fence. Tourists closer Raul Fernandez came on to strike out 4 in the ninth inning to earn his 14th save on the season. Catcher Michael Ramirez allowed a third strike to get by him on the first batter of the top of the ninth and allowed Fernandez to accomplish this baseball rarity. Flemer got the win and improved to 3-4 on the season.

The Season Opener

The Asheville Tourists won their season opener on the road against the West Virginia Power last night 3-0 behind the pitching of First Round Supplemental draft pick out of Radford, Eddie Butler. He is the #6 Prospect in the Colorado Rockies organization according to Baseball America. He pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing only one hit, struckout 7 and walked only 1. He consistently stayed in the high 90's and one pitch even hit the 100 MPH mark. Relievers Roberto Padilla (1 2/3 IP), Rayan Gonzalez (1 IP), and closer Raul Fernandez, who struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth for his first save, finished off the shutout. The Tourists were led at the plate by Catcher Tom Murphy (the #14 prospect) and Third Baseman Jason Stoltz with two hits a piece. The Tourists did strike out 12 times but it was not the best of weather conditions. Designated Hitter Kyle Von Tungeln and Rightfielder Julian Yan (the #20 prospect) drove in a run a piece. #2 Colorado Rockies prospect David Dahl, had a rough Asheville Tourists debut going 0-4 with 3 strikeouts but every hitter is going to have games like that. I am excited about the numbers he is going to put up at McCormick Field.