It was an important win for Piedmont (33-30). Coupled with Columbia’s 5-3 loss to Charleston (W.Va), the Weevils moved within six games of the Central Division lead and kept their slim hopes of a first-half pennant intact.
Uriel Casillas came up with game’s first RBI, a stinging double to left, igniting a three-run third inning. The rest of the game, Casillas spent his time standing at third base, watching Tourist after Tourist send harmless fly balls to the outfield.
‘‘I was loving it over there,’’ grinned Casillas. ‘‘Brad has been doing that all year, we just haven’t given him the support.’’
And what was the first thing the unassuming Baisley had to say about the outing that evened his record at 5-5?
‘‘I’m tired as heck.’’
Baisley was also tired of no decisions. He was coming off three straight before last night’s turnaround.
‘‘Brad was outstanding,’’ said manager Ken Oberkfell. ‘‘He took charge from the get-go and set down a pretty good offensive team.’’
Pretty good? Asheville was leading the league in hitting at .282. But the only hits the Tourists could manage were singles in the first, fourth and eighth.
And just for good measure, Baisley struck out the side in the ninth.
‘‘I had one more inning in me,’’ he huffed. ‘‘That’s all I had left.’’
Centerfielder Jason Johnson was huffing as much as Baisley. Nine times, he watched fly balls come his way. Once, five straight outs were flies to center.
‘‘I was thinking about that,’’ Johnson chuckled later. ‘‘It was the first game that I’ve had that much action.’’
Offensively, Johnson was his usual thorn in the side. The leadoff hitter had three hits, two stolen bases and scored a run.
‘‘That’s what a leadoff man is supposed to do,’’ said Oberkfell. ‘‘As long as he keeps that up, we’ll be fine.’’
It was the bottom of the order that got Baisley his three runs in the third.
No. 7 hitter Salazar singled off Asheville starter Enemencio Pacheco and came all the home one out later on Casillas’ double that hit the left field wall.
‘‘It was a 3-2 count,’’ Casillas said. ‘‘He had to come at me.’’
Johnson then ripped a single up the middle, stole second, went to third on a groundout and trotted home on a wild pitch.
‘‘It’s a lot easier to pitch when you’ve got the lead,’’ said Baisley.
Oberkfell has said that a Weevil problem all year long is allowing the other team to score immediately following a Piedmont rally. And Baisley promptly gave up a leadoff single in the fourth to Juan Pierre. But he recorded three straight outs.
‘‘The big key was when he shut them down after we scored,’’ Oberkfell said. ‘‘It kept the momentum going in the right direction.’’
Baisley simply kept his outfielders on their toes the rest of the game. Fifteen of the 27 outs were fly balls.
‘‘That’s unusual for me,’’ Baisley said. ‘‘I usually get a lot of ground balls.’’
‘‘He got the flies with his curveball,’’ said pitching coach Carlos Arroyo. ‘‘He was running the ball up and in. He used the whole strike zone.’’
The top five hitters for Asheville, all hitting over .290, were completely miffed. They were a combined 2-for-18.
Baisley was working at a quick pace, something that has turned his season around.
‘‘Working faster keeps me in more of a tempo,’’ said Bailsey. ‘‘If a pitcher is taking forever, the fielders aren’t going to be paying a lot of attention.’’
It was tough not to pay attention to this performance. It was the best of the season.
‘‘He had been struggling early,’’ Arroyo said. ‘‘His mechanics were bad. But he is doing a great job now. It’s nice to see a young kid do well like that.’’
NOTES: Asheville fell to 27-36. ... It was Baisley’s first complete game as a professional. ... Carlos Duncan also had a hit. ... Jorge Padilla was sent down to Batavia after the game. ... Johnson has 16 stolen bases. ... Casillas’ double was his eighth. ... Carlos Silva (6-1, 1.63) will pitch tonight in Greensboro.
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