Catfish drop 5th straight

Asheville Tourists (Rockies) DH Jeffrey Cunningham had a 2-HR, 6-RBI night as Asheville beat the Columbus Catfish, 9-5 Sunday night.

The Tourists scored early and often in support of ace Jhoulys Chacin (8-1). Darin Holcomb's RBI single opened the scoring early for the Tourists, giving Asheville a 1-0 lead in the first. The T's would put up three in the third after two walks set the stage for Cunningham's first home run - a shot over the 36-foot high fence in right.

Columbus got an unearned run in the fifth when a throwing error allowed a run to score, but the Tourists struck back in the bottom half of the inning. Cunningham and Holcomb drew bases loaded walks, then Rike drove in a third run with a sacrifice fly to left. Columbus would add another in the sixth on a sacrifice fly of their own.

The loss -- the 5th in a row and the 11th in 14 games -- means the Catfish risk being swept by Asheville. The final game of the series is Tuesday morning.