The Asheville Tourists edged the Savannah Sand Gnats 5-4 after trailing for seven innings at McCormick Field this past Monday night.

With two outs in the ninth inning, Tourists’ right fielder Brian Rike smacked a solo home run, snapping a two-game losing streak. He finished 1-for-5, but took the team lead in home runs with seven.

Asheville (22-10) was behind 4-2 in the eighth inning, when the team staged a rally, capped by David Christenson’s game-tying single. Christenson finished 3-for-4, with two RBIs and one run scored. Also fueling the Tourists’ offense was Michael Mitchell, who finished 2-for-5 with an RBI.

For Savannah (12-19), Michael Parker swatted a two-run home run earlier to give the Gnats the two-run lead.
Tourists’ closer Randall Taylor (1-0) registered the win by pitching one scoreless inning. Asheville starter Jhoulys Chacin gave up four runs — three earned — on seven hits and three walks in seven innings, including Parker’s home run. Chacin struck out six Gnats.