After a dramaless third consecutive victory on Friday night secured no worse than a split in the 6-game series, the Hub City Spartanburgers looked to waste no time in getting the job done and claiming a series win on Star Wars day at Fifth Third Park.
Chad Comer and his staff would turn to right hander D.J. McCarty (0-2, 10.45 ERA) to try and continue the trend of pitching being the story of the series, going opposite Rome righty Garrett Baumann (0-4, 5.66). The trend did continue as the 4,035 were treated to a pitchers’ duel yet again. They both went 5 scoreless innings, with McCarty striking out 5, walking 2, and giving up 3 hits. Baumann surrendered 4 hits, striking out 6 and walking just 1.
The bullpen continued their solid work of late as well. Seth Clark worked a scoreless frame, working around a single with a double play and a fly ball to right to leave the go-ahead run on third. Dylan MacLean tossed the next 2, notching two more K’s, while walking 1 and giving up 1 hit. On the other end, Tyler LaPorte and Isaac Gallegos combined to strike out 2, walk 2, and give up 2 singles over two more scoreless frames for Rome despite the Spartanburgers leaving the bases loaded in the 9th.
Willian Bormie kept Hub City in position to win it with 2 goose eggs in which he struck out three and walked one with no hits. For Rome, Ryan Bourassa came on to work the 9th and 10th, once again escaping a bases-loaded 2 out jam in the bottom of the 10th.
In the 11th, Bormie gave way to Josh Mollerus, who hung a zero by getting a grounder to third, a fielder’s choice that forced the ghost runner out at third, and a fly ball to right. After Hub City left the winning run on third for the third straight inning, it finally came back to bite in the top of the 12th when a 1 out RBI single from catcher Mac Guscette plated ghost runner Will Verdung for the game’s first run. Mollerus pushed through and got out of the inning to give the bats a chance to at least force a 13th frame. They got that and then some.
Danyer Cueva drew a walk and along with ghost runner Julian Brock, moved into scoring position on a bunt from Keith Jones II. Dylan Dreiling was intentionally walked to load the bases for the third time in 4 frames. But, this time, the Burgers finally broke through. Quincy Scott, who came in to pinch run for Arturo Disla in the bottom of the 9th, channeled Luke Skywalker using the force to guide his proton torpedoes to blow up the Death Star and walked off Rome for the third time in the last 4 games, lining a 2-run single into left center field.
With the win, Hub City (24-20) won the series and their 4th straight game, marking their first series victory since taking 4 of 6 from the Greenville Drive in their 2nd home stand back in April.
The Burgers will look to make it 5 straight Sunday afternoon as the series concludes with a 2:05 PM first pitch. First 1,000 fans through the gates will get a bobblehead of Chip the pickle and a chance to see Jose Gonzalez (0-4, 3.24 ERA) face Adam Maier (3-2, 4.83).
