Grasshoppers Clinch Playoff Spot with 6-5 Win Over Tourists

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Greensboro came to HomeTrust Park Wednesday night looking to punch its ticket to the playoffs. Asheville made them work for every inch.

The Grasshoppers beat Asheville 6-5 to clinch a playoff spot in the Northern Division, celebrating on the HomeTrust Park field after a back and forth game that came down to the final out.

Asheville struck first and struck hard. Caden Powell lined a single to center in the bottom of the first to score Kyle Walker and Anthony Huezo, giving the Tourists an early 2-0 lead.

Adam Shoemaker kept Greensboro in check for five innings, allowing just two earned runs while striking out seven and escaping a bases loaded jam in the third on a double play. But the Grasshoppers chipped away. Axiel Plaz homered in the second to cut it to 2-1. Eddie King Jr. drew a bases loaded walk in the third to tie it. A Brandon Nigh error in the fourth allowed Jhonny Severino to score and give Greensboro its first lead at 3-2.

Asheville answered each time. A Yosweld Vasquez sacrifice fly in the third retook the lead at 3-2. A Nick Monistere sacrifice fly in the fifth pushed it to 4-3. The Tourists were battling.

Then the eighth inning unraveled. Grayson Saunier couldn't hold on after a clean seventh inning. A Severino single scored one, and a Jadyn Fielder throwing error from right field allowed two more to score. Dylan Palmer singled to score two on the same play, and suddenly a one-run Asheville lead had become a two-run Greensboro advantage. 6-4.

The Tourists made one last push. A Fielder grounder in the bottom of the eighth scored Zach Daudet to cut it to 6-5. But that was as close as Asheville would get. Brandon Nigh struck out the final batter of the ninth to end it.

Powell and Fielder were the offensive standouts for Asheville. Powell went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Fielder went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Greensboro celebrated its playoff clinch on the HomeTrust Park field as Asheville's season winds down to its final three games.

The Tourists and Grasshoppers meet again Thursday night. Kellan Oakes takes the ball for Asheville against Greensboro's Jacob Bimbi. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.