ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The Grasshoppers defeated the Tourists 4-3 in 11 innings Thursday night at First National Bank Field in Greensboro, handing Asheville its first extra-inning loss of the season.
Greensboro (5-1) opened the scoring with solo home runs in each of the first two innings before Asheville (2-4) responded in the fourth. Cesar Hernandez tied the game with a two-run triple to right field.
The Tourists took a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning when Jason Schiavone hit his second home run of the series, sending a ball over the right-center field wall.
Greensboro evened the score again with a solo home run in the eighth inning. Both teams were held scoreless in the ninth and 10th innings, forcing the game into the 11th.
Inmer Lobo (1-0) earned the win after pitching a scoreless top of the 11th. Greensboro then loaded the bases in the bottom half before Jared Jones drew a walk from Francisco Frias (0-1), forcing in the winning run.
Asheville starter Cole Hertzler struck out eight and allowed two runs over five innings. Relievers Alain Pena and Colby Langford combined to cover the final five innings, with Langford throwing two scoreless frames.
Kyle Walker led Asheville at the plate with two hits, accounting for the team’s only multi-hit performance.
The teams are scheduled to meet again at 7 p.m. Friday for the fourth game of the series.
