ASHEVILLE TOURISTS vs. COLUMBUS CATFISH

Matthew Fields homered twice and drove in a career-high five runs to power host Columbus to a 16-7 win over Asheville on Saturday.

Fields blasted a three-run shot in the second inning, then launched a two-run homer, his 17th, in the seventh. It was his second career multi-homer game and first since Aug. 16, 2006 at Tri-City, when he was with short season Hudson Valley.

Ryan Royster, who went 4-for-5 with three runs scored, cranked a two-run homer, his South Atlantic League-leading 26th, in the seventh for the Catfish (34-20), who moved 1 1/2 games ahead of the second-place Tourists (33-22) in the Southern Division. The 21-year-old left fielder has 11 homers in his last 17 games, including a six-game streak from Aug. 5-11

Cesar Suarez went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and four RBIs for Columbus, which set season highs with six homers and 16 runs. He slugged a two-run homer, his 11th, in the eighth. Matthew Spring added a three-run blast and Nevin Ashley belted a two-run shot.

Catfish starter Heath Rollins (15-4) became the Minor Leagues' first 15-game winner. He allowed three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out seven over six innings to win his fifth straight start.

Victor Ferrante and Bret Berglund hit two-run homers, and Jay Cox went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI for Asheville.

Tourists starter Simon Ferrer (7-10) gave up six runs on nine hits and a walk with one strikeout over four frames.

Game & team information

Date: August 18, 2007

Division: Class A Baseball / South Atlantic League

Location: Columbus, GA

Field: Golden Park

Attendance: 1,048

Starting time: 7:05 PM

Asheville Tourists are the Class A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies

Columbus Catfish are the Class A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Score

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

R

H

E

Tourists

0

0

0

0

3

0

0

1

3

7

11

4

Catfish

0

3

1

0

2

2

3

5

-

16

18

0

Box scores / batting

Asheville Tourists

AB

R

H

RBI

AVG

Hector Gomez (SS)

5

0

0

0

.274

Geoff Strickland (3B)

4

1

2

1

.270

Daniel Mayora (2B)

5

0

1

1

.307

Mike Paulk (1B)

3

0

1

0

.313

Michael McKenry (DH)

4

1

1

0

.289

Jay Cox (LF)

4

2

2

1

.258

Bret Berglund (CF)

4

1

2

2

.243

Victor Ferrante (RF)

4

2

2

2

.265

Jhaysson Agustin (C)

4

0

0

0

.200

Asheville Tourists totals:

37

7

11

7

Columbus Catfish

AB

R

H

RBI

AVG

John Matulia (CF)

5

1

2

0

.256

Brett Grandstrand (2B)

5

2

2

0

.205

Cesar Suarez (3B)

5

3

4

4

.298

Nevin Ashley (DH)

3

2

2

2

.281

Ryan Royster (LF)

5

3

4

2

.327

Quinn Stewart (RF)

5

2

1

0

.264

Matthew Fields (1B)

5

2

2

5

.239

Matthew Spring (C)

5

1

1

3

.211

Jario DeLa Rosa (SS)

5

0

0

0

.220

Columbus Catfish totals:

43

16

18

16

Box scores / pitching

Asheville Tourists

IP

H

R

ER

BB

SO

HR

ERA

Simon Ferrer

4

9

6

6

1

1

2

5.11

Josh Sullivan

2

2

2

0

0

2

0

3.32

Andrew Kreidermacher

1

3

3

3

0

1

2

1.77

Tommy Baumgardner

2/3

3

4

4

1

2

1

2.56

Michael Marbry

1/3

1

1

1

0

1

1

6.75

Columbus Catfish

IP

H

R

ER

BB

SO

HR

ERA

Heath Rollins

6

5

3

3

1

7

1

2.57

Brian Baker

2

2

1

1

1

2

0

2.19

Matt Falk

1

4

3

3

0

2

1

5.80

Additional stats

Winning Pitcher: Heath Rollins (15 - 4)

Losing Pitcher: Simon Ferrer (7 - 10)

Save: none

Wild Pitch: Andrew Kreidermacher, Tommy Baumgardner

Passed Ball: Jhaysson Agustin

Hit By Pitch: none

Strikeouts: Hector Gomez 2, Geoff Strickland, Daniel Mayora 2, Mike Paulk, Michael McKenry 2, Bret Berglund, Victor Ferrante, Jhaysson Agustin, Cesar Suarez, Ryan Royster, Quinn Stewart 2, Matthew Fields, Jario DeLa Rosa 2

Walks: Geoff Strickland, Mike Paulk, Nevin Ashley 2

Intentional Walks: none

Stolen Bases: Bret Berglund (14), John Matulia (16), Brett Grandstrand (8), Cesar Suarez (30)

Caught Stealing: Geoff Strickland

2B: Geoff Strickland (21), Daniel Mayora (36), Michael McKenry (31), Cesar Suarez (36)

3B: Geoff Strickland (7), Jay Cox (6)

Home Run(s): Bret Berglund (6), Victor Ferrante (16), Cesar Suarez (11), Nevin Ashley (10), Ryan Royster (26), Matthew Fields 2 (16, 17), Matthew Spring (2)

Left on Base: Asheville Tourists - 5, Columbus Catfish - 5

Double plays: Asheville Tourists - 0, Columbus Catfish - 0

Errors: Hector Gomez, Geoff Strickland, Simon Ferrer 2

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