Perez Shines Again But Grasshoppers Steal It Late, 4-2

Javier Perez turned in another strong outing for the Asheville Tourists, but it was enough. Greensboro escaped HomeTrust Park with a 4-2 win on the strength of a late three-run homer. The game went by in the blink of an eye, wrapping up in 2 hours and 12 minutes, the fastest nine-inning contest at HomeTrust Park this season.

Edward Florentino got Greensboro on the board early with a solo home run in the top of the first. Asheville answered back with a pair of milestone moments. Nick Monistere hit his first home run as a Tourist in the bottom of the second to tie it, and Jadyn Fielder followed an inning later with his own first homer as a Tourist, a no doubt shot to right field in his HomeTrust Park debut that gave Asheville a 2-1 lead. Fielder also made a few nice plays in left field on the night with his father, MLB All-Star Prince Fielder in attendance.

Perez was excellent across six innings, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out six. Greensboro starter Levi Sterling matched him for most of the game, striking out nine over five innings.

The eighth inning swung things in Greensboro's favor. Anthony Cruz had come on in relief of Perez and struck out four of his first five batters faced before issuing back-to-back walks. Axiel Plaz then worked the count to his final strike before launching a three-run homer that plated Florentino and Yordany De Los Santos, putting Greensboro ahead 4-2 for good.

Asheville managed just three hits on the night, with the two homers from Monistere and Fielder joined by a ninth inning single from Anthony Huezo.

The Tourists continue the series Wednesday with Adam Shoemaker on the mound against Reinold Navarro for Greensboro, first pitch at 6:35 p.m.