After clinching the series Saturday evening via the third walkoff in 4 games, Hub City, who was propelled into 1st place thanks to Greenville knocking off Bowling Green 8-4, looked to make it 5 in a row for the first time this season. Righty Jose Gonzalez (0-4, 3.24 ERA) would be tasked with keeping the pitching’s run of success this week going opposite Rome right hander Adam Maier (3-2, 4.83) while the offense tried to find its bearings after going 0-fer with runners in scoring position until Quincy Scott’s 12th inning 1-out walkoff knock.
Things did not get off to the most ideal start for Gonzalez as Rome Center Fielder Patrick Clohisy led off the game with a triple over the head of Keith Jones II in left, and later scored on a grounder to short from left fielder Titus Dumitru, giving Rome a 1-0 lead that they held up until the bottom of the 4th inning.
Arturo Disla started the best rally of the week for the Burgers with a leadoff solo homer into Chaser’s Corner in left. Yeison Morrobel followed with a single, not long after scoring on the 2nd home run of the frame when Gleider Figuereo took the first pitch into the Rome bullpen in right field. Casey Cook kept the train chugging along with a double and was bunted to third by Quincy Scott. Danyer Cueva capped the rally with a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Cook to give the Spartanburgers a 4-1 lead heading to the 5th inning.
Gonzalez would end the day after 5 frames of 1-run ball, striking out 5 and walking 1 with three hits. He gave way to Anthony Susac to start the 6th, who quickly found himself in a jam after a leadoff single from Dumitru, a walk to shortstop Ambioris Tavarez, and a single from first baseman Will Verdung. But, he got an infield fly to 2nd and a 4-6-3 double play back to back to preserve the lead.
After Hub City went down in order, Mailon Felix came on to start the 7th, also running into trouble. Unfortunately, he did not escape so cleanly. Catcher Harry Owen led off with a single, later to be forced 3-6 at 2nd on a fielder’s choice off the bat of right fielder Justin Janas. Felix followed it by plunking 2nd baseman Joe Olsavsky, who was later erased on yet another 3-6 force that allowed Clohisy to reach. The Emperors struck when Clohisy stole 2nd. Jhocsuanth Vargas’ throw down to 2nd went into center, scoring Janas to cut the Rome deficit down to 4-2, which would be the score at the 7th inning stretch.
The Burgers once again went three up three down in the 7th, and Joey Danielson got the nod from the bullpen to start the 8th. In similar fashion to the 2 before him, trouble found Danielson quickly, and even more unfortunately, things went sideways. Tavarez started the Rome push with a single and Verdung made it back to back knocks. With 1 out, designated hitter Bryson Horne singled off the leg of Verdung, who as a consequence was out on the play. Harry Owen then pulled Rome within 1 on a run-scoring single. Justin Janas dealt the deadly blow with a triple to the right field corner that scored the tying and go-ahead runs. Eric Loomis would end up getting the Burgers out of the inning, leaving 2 on. But, Hub City would have to rally late once again to try and notch a 4th walkoff.
Loomis held Rome in the ninth to keep Hub City within one, but it just was not meant to be as the Burgers were retired in order in the bottom of the ninth to snap the 4-game streak, falling 5-4. Hub City finished the series 4-2 and dropped to 24-21 on the season, as well as into a tie for 1st place with Bowling Green, who defeated Greenville 5-0 in 8 innings on Sunday.
The good news for the Burgers is that they have a day off on Monday and a good chance to get back on track offensively as they begin a 6-game set with the Winston-Salem Dash (15-29, last place in the SAL South standings). The series kicks off at 6:35 PM. As of now, probable starters for the opener have yet to be announced.
