Following a series split with the Winston-Salem Dash to cap a 12-game homestand, the Hub City Spartanburgers made the 3.5 hour trek up I-85 to Greensboro for a 6-game set with the Grasshoppers, who up until the last week had been sitting atop the South Atlantic League North Division standings with a record that was pushing 20 games over .500.
These two squads met a month ago for 6 contests at Fifth Third Park – a series that Hub City ultimately dropped despite winning the first 2 games due to lack of offense on the Burgers’ part coupled with some bullpen struggles in the late innings. Still, if any positive takeaway from the series, it was that Hub City was competitive and had the opportunity to pick up the ideal result – a split – even though they dropped 4 straight. This time around, the offensive issues still proved prevalent, but thanks to some long balls and starting pitching that kept turning out strong performances, the Spartanburgers were able to accomplish the ideal scenario that eluded them at home 4 weeks ago.
On Tuesday night, Leandro Lopez got the start for Hub City and picked up where Jose Gonzalez left off in last Sunday’s win. Yeison Morrobel finally broke through with a runner in scoring position for the Burgers in the top of the 6th on an RBI single that plated Keith Jones II, spotting a 1-0 lead to Lopez, who came back out for the bottom of the frame. He ran into some immediate trouble after a leadoff walk and a double. The third batter of the frame grounded into a fielders’ choice in which the lead runner was forced at the plate. But, Lopez’s 1-2 pitch to Duce Gourson was his biggest mistake, as he took it out of the yard for a 3 run homer. That shot would end up being all the difference in the game as the offense was unable to cut away at the deficit, handing Lopez his 4th loss of the season as Greensboro went on to add one more in the inning on a 2 out single from Omar Alfonzo to make for the final 4-1 margin.
The Burgers bounced back in game 2 with a quick turnaround time for a noon start. Aidan Curry was fantastic on the bump for Hub City, going just an inning shy of a quality start with 5 shutout frames, 6 strikeouts, 1 walk, and 3 hits. The bullpen kept the shutout going as Dylan MacLean and Josh Mollerus combined to finish the game with 2 more K’s despite 3 walks and 1 hit. Casey Cook got the scoring started for the Spartanburgers with a first inning solo homer while Morrobel notched 2 more RBIs on an 8th inning base hit and Keith Jones II followed it with a run-scoring double in what would be a 4-0 win for the Burgers – the first of 2 in a row.
Then offensive production carried over into Thursday night’s game as Hub City slugged 4 home runs – starting with a leadoff no-doubter off the scoreboard in the top of the 2nd. They added on in the 4th on a strange play where Wady Mendez (assigned to the Burgers from Low-A Hickory on June 3rd) grounded between the 1st and 2nd baseman, ending up going for an E3 fielding error and allowing Anthony Gutierrez (led off with a single and advanced on a walk to Morrobel) to score. In the 5th, Jones II and Gutierrez went back to back to extend the lead to 4-0.
Josh Trentadue got the start and tossed 4 shutout frames, striking out 6, walking one, and surrendering just 2 hits. He gave way to Kolton Curtis, who gave up a 2 out 2 run shot to Gourson. It did not take long for that lead to open back up as Arturo Disla deposited a 1 out 2 run shot beyond the fence in left center field to make it 6-2. Yeison Morrobel kept his clutch streak alive in the 7th with a double to the right field corner, putting him a triple shy of the cycle and plating Gutierrez. Greensboro scored 2 more in the 8th to cut the hole down to 7-4, but in the end, Curtis got the win in relief with 5 innings, 4 Ks, 1 walk, 4 runs, and 6 hits.
The win streak was broken Friday night as the Burgers dropped a 2-1 rain-shortened decision in 7 innings. David Davalillo took to the bump for Hub City, and surrendered just 1 earned run in 5 innings – a solo shot from Alfonzo in the bottom of the 4th. The Spartanburgers answered in the ensuing half inning on a sac fly from Luis Marquez (assigned to HC from Hickory on June 4th) that scored Julian Brock. Willian Bormie ended up taking the tough luck loss in the abbreviation thanks to surrendering a 2 out run-scoring knock to PJ Hilson in the home 6th.
Hub City would once again rebound on Saturday to secure the series split. Greensboro drew first blood off DJ McCarty in the 3rd on an RBI groundout. But, the Burgers answered a run with multiple runs, sparked by a leadoff walk to Gutierrez. After he swiped 2nd, Casey Cook dropped in a base hit to tie the game and added another stolen base. Quincy Scott and Mendez both drew walks to put Burgers on the grill for Marquez, who delivered a clutch 2 run single to make it 3-1, and HC never looked back from there, adding a single run in the 5th on a Cal Stark sac fly and hanging a three spot in the 6th that was highlighted by a 2 run blast from Jones II. The Grasshoppers scored 3 over the final 2 frames, but the Burgers got the 7-4 win. Eric Loomis was the pitcher of record, tossing 2 shutout frames with 4 strikeouts. Seth Clark earned his third save of the season, getting the final out after surrendering 1 hit.
Sunday’s series finale was a slugfest – and unfortunately a lopsided one. The Hoppers offense was held in check for most of the series, but they were due for a breakout that would come at a bad time for Jose Gonzalez. Javier Rivas hit a 2 out 2 run shot off him in the 1st. Marquez answered in the top of the 2nd with an RBI 2-bagger that scored Brock. The 2 sides traded blows over the next 2 innings – two of them coming on a solo homer from Gutierrez and a game-tying 2 run homer from Jones II. The Grasshoppers scored 5 unanswered over the last 5 frames to salvage the finale 9-4.
With the split, Hub City moved to 30-27 on the season and maintained striking distance of south division leader Bowling Green, who dropped three straight to Jersey Shore. Hub City will also enter this week’s series against the Wilmington Blue Rocks (24-33) in a tie for 2nd with the Greenville Drive (30-27), who have won eight of their last 10 and 4 straight. Game one against the Blue Rocks is set for Tuesday night with a 6:35 first pitch at Fifth Third Park. It is Leandro Lopez’s turn in the rotation, but he has not been announced as the starter yet. He will face left hander Jackson Kent (4-5, 5.26 ERA).
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