Grasshoppers shut down by Tourists

By Bruce Bullington, greensborosports.com Staff Writer 

Having already dropped the first two games of the series against the Greensboro Grasshoppers at First Horizon Park, the Asheville Tourists knew they would be in for a rough ride today.

With no regular starting pitcher available to take the mound, Tourists manager Joe Mikulik went to a bullpen-by-committee, and four pitchers combined for a six-hit shutout in front of a weekday afternoon crowd of 4,683.

Greensboro starter Tom Cowley started out strong, throwing 4 2/3 innings of no-hit ball before being touched up for a two-out double by right fielder Victor Ferrante and driven home on a single by left fielder Jay Cox.

Asheville added two insurance runs in the sixth on RBI singles by Daniel Mayora and Mike Repec.

The Grasshoppers best scoring chance came in the second when, after a throwing error by Asheville third baseman Spencer Nagy put runners on second and third with one out, Greensboro catcher Blake Ochoa chased a ball out of the strike zone for a strikeout and then Tourists starter Josh Sullivan induced number nine hitter Greg Burns to ground out to second.

The Grasshoppers will try and take the series finale tomorrow night at First Horizon Park. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by clicking here.