Catfish Fall To Asheville

The Catfish fell to the Asheville Tourists (Rockies) by a score of 9-3. It was the first game of a four-game series with Asheville, who held the Catfish to five hits.

Our two players, Dan Batz and Lucas May both played tonight. Dan had a double and scored a run. Luke was hitless, but reached in the ninth, and was in scoring position when the game ended.

Game two of the series is tomorrow night, weather permitting. The rain canceled Thursday's game with Hickory.

Game story from the Columbus Catfish Web site:

Tourists Bomb Catfish with the Long Ball as Columbus Loses Series Opener 9-3
Tourists Blast Four Homers in First Four Innings

ASHEVILLE, NC—McComick Field in Asheville has a reputation as a hitter's paradise and the Asheville Tourists provided proof tonight, beating the Catfish 9-3 while hitting four HR in the victory.  The Catfish scored just three runs tonight, two on solo round-trippers. Asheville hit home runs in the second, third, and two long balls in the fourth inning to win the series opener and even up the season series between the two teams at two games apiece.  RHP Jarod Plummer pitched 4.1 scoreless innings in relief for the Catfish tonight, and RF Ryan Carter hit a solo HR and drove home two in the loss for Columbus (34-49 Overall, 6-8 2nd Half).  Asheville 2B Jose Valdez finished 3-5 with a 2B, HR, and 3 RBI in the win for the Tourists (45-39, 7-8 2nd Half).

Catfish starter RHP Zach Hammes gave up a solo HR to Tourist 3B Dustin Hahn in the second inning to give Asheville the early lead, and the Tourists jumped on Hammes for three more in the third, including a two-run blast by RF Justin Nelson.  Valdez hit a three-run shot and LF Matt Miller hit a two-run bomb in the fifth for Asheville, knocking Hammes from the game and giving Asheville a 9-0 advantage.  The Catfish scored their only runs against LHP Franklin Morales tonight on solo HRs by Carter and SS Dominique Laurin in the fifth inning.

Plummer relieved Hammes tonight and did not allow a run in the final 4.1 innings tonight, striking out four in the process.  The Catfish did score a run in the ninth inning on Carter's RBI single, but could not get any closer in the 9-3 loss.  Tomorrow RHP Brandon Weeden (2-7, 4.74 ERA) starts for Columbus against LHP Jake Postlewait (4-4, 5.42 ERA) for Asheville.  First pitch from McCormick Field is scheduled for 7:00 PM.