What is better than 1 walkoff? Two walkoffs and a standings shakeup! After Jhocsuanth Vargas’ infield single up the third base line propelled Hub City to a 2-1 victory and series lead and a tie with Rome for 2nd place, they got even more good news as the Greenville Drive defeated Bowling Green to make for a 3-way tie atop the South Atlantic League South Division. The Burgers would have the best possible man on the mound to help them guarantee at least a split in the series and being alone in 2nd place in game 4 of the set Friday night as David Davalillo (2-0, 1.08 ERA) took on Rome right hander Logan Samuels (0-0, 6.75).
Both pitchers struggled to get clean innings in the early going, each allowing a runner in all but 1 of the first 4 innings. Davalillo had the better of it, striking out 6 in the early frames, walking one, and allowing just 1 hit. Samuels did not notch a K in that span, walking three and surrendering three hits. Hub City drew first blood off him in the bottom of the 3rd when Quincy Scott drew a leadoff walk and stole 2nd. On the throw down, the catcher put it in center field, allowing Scott to advance on the error. Danyer Cueva later followed with a single up the middle to give the Burgers a 1-0 lead. But, they could do no further damage as a double play and grounder to 2nd got Rome out of the inning.
Hub City put together their best scoring threat in a while in the 4th, working the bases loaded after singles from Arturo Disla and Gleider Figuereo and a walk by Casey Cook. But, with 1 out, Julian Brock grounded into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play to get Samuels out of the jam. Following three more strikeouts by Davalillo to work around a 2 out single from 9-hole hitter Jace Grady, the Burgers struck again in the home half of the 5th.
Quincy Scott was hit by a pitch to start the inning. He stole 2nd, and with two outs, Dylan Dreiling singled into right center to score him. Disla kept the train rolling with a single to set the stage for one more blow. Anthony Gutierrez laced a double to the left field corner to plate Dreiling. Disla rounded third on the play, but was hosed at the dish 7-6-2 on the relay to end the rally. But the Spartanburgers carried a 3-1 advantage to the 6th.
Davalillo departed after 6 innings, having struck out 10, walked just 1, and hung a goose egg despite 3 hits. He gave way to Adonis Villavicenzio, who ran into trouble right away, walking 1st baseman Bryson Horne and following by giving up an RBI double down the left field line and all the way to the corner to Catcher Mac Guscette. He rebounded by retiring the next three in order, and Rome would not push another run across the rest of the way.
Eric Loomis and Joey Danielson worked a scoreless inning each, with Loomis adding 2 more K’s to give the staff 12 on the night. Danielson would notch the save after Hub City’s bats produced one more insurance run on a solo homer out of right by Dreiling in the bottom of the 8th to make for the final 4-1 margin.
Hub City moved to 23-20 on the season with the victory, guaranteed at least a split in the series and for now, solo in 2nd place pending what happens between Greenville and Bowling Green.
Game 5 of the series is Star Wars night at Fifth Third Park and is set to begin at 4:35 PM as DJ McCarty (0-2, 10.45 ERA) is set to face Garrett Baumann (0-4, 5.66).
