Asheville starter Juan Nicasio and two relievers combined on a one-hitter as the Tourists defeated the Lexington Legends 5-0 at Applebee’s Park Tuesday night. Steve Brown’s bunt single in the eighth inning broke up the no-hitter. With one out, Brown bunted between the mound and the third base line. Nicasio made a barehand pickup and throw, but Brown beat the play at first base. Nicasio had retired 17 straight batters before Brown’s hit. In seven and one-third innings, Nicasio (1-0) walked two and struck out six to earn his first victory. Michael Marbry relieved Nicasio and finished the eighth. Kurt Yacko worked a perfect ninth Asheville scored in the second to take a 1-0 lead when Tyler Massey singled, went to second on a sacrifice by Patrick Rose and scored on a single by Jimmy Cesario. The Tourists added a second run in the seventh inning. Delta Cleary tripled and scored on a single by Scott Robinson. The 2-0 lead stood until the ninth, when Asheville broke it open with three more runs. After Beau Seabury singled and Carlos Martinez doubled, the Tourists squeezed a run home on Cleary’s bunt single. Cleary took second on a wild pitch, and he and Martinez both scored on Thomas Field’s base hit to give Asheville a 5-0 lead. Lexington starter Kyle Greenwalt (3-6) was the losing pitcher. He allowed two runs on nine hits in six and one-third innings. The series concludes with Wednesday night's game at Applebee’s Park. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.
