Asheville holds off Columbia’s late surge

Asheville’s pitching held Columbia in check for most of the game, and the Tourists held off a Fireflies’ comeback bid for a 3-2 win on Saturday night at Spirit Communications Park.

Asheville (17-16) got a run in the top of the second when Hamlet Marte scored on a sacrifice fly by Josh Fuentes. The Tourists added another run in the third when Brendan Rodgers scored on a Brian Mundell triple.

Asheville made it 3-0 in the sixth when Fuentes scored on a throwing error by Tyler Badamo.

Columbia (18-17) fired back in the bottom of the ninth when Jeff Diehl led off the inning with a double, before advancing to third on a wild pitch by Drasen Johnson. Milton Ramos lined out before Juan Pena come on in relief of Johnson. Ivan Wilson then doubled in Diehl. Wilson then scored on a Jose Garcia single. Pena gave up a single to Vincente Lup, but retired the next two batters for his first save.

Peter Lambert (2-1) picked up the win, pitching five shutout innings and striking out five. Badamo (1-3) got the loss, giving up eight hits and three runs in seven innings.