After a nail-biter game 2 in which Hub City needed all 7 runs they scored to even the series with Winston-Salem, the offense would look to take another step in the right direction while Kolton Curtis (1-1, 4.76 ERA) took to the mound.
Curtis kept the trend of retiring the side in order in the top of the 1st. On the other side, Hub City also went without so much as a soft sizzle, not just in the first, but also the 2nd.
Winston Salem put together the first threat of the game in the top of the 2nd after Curtis walked catcher Jackson Appel, who went first-to-third when First Baseman Luis Pineda followed with a base hit. However, the threat became idle when center fielder Samuel Zavala struck out swinging and 2nd baseman Jordan Sprinkle flew out to center to retire the side.
After the Burgers went in order again in the home 2nd, the Dash dealt the first blow of the night when left fielder Terrell Tatum worked a leadoff walk. He swiped 2nd and third, later coming home on a wild pitch. Despite the walk and run given up, Curtis still got the next three in order, striking out 2 in the process.
The Spartanburgers finally got their first base runner of the game in the bottom of the frame when Theo Hardy worked a walk to lead off against left hander Frankeli Arias (1-1, 5.40). He advanced to third on a ground ball to 2nd and a stolen base, but would end up being the first to be left in scoring position when Arturo Disla flew out to center on the first pitch to kill the threat.
Winston-Salem added another run off Curtis in the 4th inning, once again taking advantage of a free pass to the leadoff hitter. In almost deja vu fashion to the 2nd inning, Makarewicz went first-to-third on a 1 out single from Pineda who was later forced at 2nd when Zavala reached on an RBI fielder’s choice. Zavala was later picked off to retire the side, but Hub City was 2 runs in the hole as they came to the dish.
The Spartanburgers finally broke up the no-hitter in the 5th on a 1-out knock from Quincy Scott. After a passed ball and a grounder to 2nd, Hub City found themselves with a runner on third for the 2nd time in the game. But, it came to nothing as Esteban Mejia whiffed to end the inning.
The offense finally broke through with a little help from some defensive miscues in the bottom of the 6th, which started with a single from Cueva. Disla followed it with a walk, and with 1 out, Keith Jones II singled to the shortstop, who promptly threw the ball wide of first trying to get him. The first baseman retrieved the ball and threw to the plate, also going wide for an E3. That whole sequence scored Cueva and advanced Disla and Jones ninety more feet. Cal Stark drew a walk to put Burgers on the grill for Gleider Figuereo, who lifted a sac fly to left to plate Disla and tie the game at 2. Quincy Scott drew another free pass with 2 down to load the sacks for Theo Hardy who lined to right to leave them full.
The bullpens were the story of the remainder of regulation – particularly Josh Trentadue, who tossed 4 no-hit innings, striking out 6 and walking 2 – highlighted by a 7th inning in which he walked the first 2batters and left them both in scoring position by striking out the next three swinging. Unfortunately for Hub City, three different Winston-Salem arms combined to match Josh. Luke Bell, Morris Austin, Mark McLaughlin, and Carson Jacobs combined to strike out 12 over 8 innings of work.
In the end, the game went sideways in the top of the 12th. Mailon Felix gave up a 1 out walk and a single to Matt Hogan, plating the ghost runner Zavala for the go-ahead run. Jeral Perez kept it going with a walk that was followed by another run-scoring knock from DH Braden Montgomery, putting the Burgers in a 4-2 deficit as they came to bat in the home half.
Hub City pushed across ghost runner Theo Hardy on a single from Danyer Cueva, but the next 2 went in order for a 4-3 loss. The Spartanburgers left 11 on base and went 2-12 to amplify Felix’s tough outing.
The Burgers (25-23) will look to re-even the series on Friday night as David Davalillo (3-0, 0.92 ERA) goes up against Jake Bockenstedt (1-3, 6.05). First pitch is set for 7:05 PM.
