Hub City’s tough week continued on Friday night, with ace David Davalillo getting knocked around through just an inning and two-thirds in which he surrendered 6 earned runs while the offense was shut down all game long en route to an 8-0 loss. That defeat dropped the Spartanburgers under .500 for the first time this season, for their fifth straight loss, while also marking the first time they have been shut out at home.
The most fortunate thing to come from Friday night was the gaps in the standings did not change much. Greenville lost to Hudson Valley, dropping them back to second place a half game back from Bowling Green. Hub City entered Saturday night 2.5 games back from the top and 1.5 back from 2nd, looking to break the skid and try to get back into position to make a run at the first half division championship.
Chad Comer would place the ball in the hand of D.J. McCarty (0-2, 6.39 ERA) to hold Wilmington at bay and give the bats a chance to get back on track. He did manage to get out of trouble twice, but he wasn’t without a mistake.
In the first inning, McCarty walked the first two batters, escaping trouble on a 6-4-3 double play and a fly out to left. In the 2nd inning, Wilmington drew first blood after Theo Hardy threw wide of first after a routine ground ball to him, leading to a 2-run homer into Chaser’s Corner from designated hitter Caleb Farmer and 2 unearned runs on McCarty’s line. D.J. walked the bases loaded in the 4th inning with one away, but induced yet another twin killing – this time a 5-4-3.
McCarty departed after 4 complete with 4 strikeouts, 5 walks, and the home run being the lone hit off him. He gave way to Seth Clark, who tossed 2 shutout innings, striking out two more with just 1 walk and 1 hit.
At the plate, Hub City responded to the Wilmington homer in the bottom of the 2nd, cashing in a leadoff walk to Arturo Disla. Quincy Scott followed with a single. With 1 out, Wady Mendez singled to load the bases for Theo Hardy, who lofted a sacrifice fly to center to cut the deficit in half.
Hub City would not have another runner reach until the bottom of the 6th inning when Cal Stark drew a one out base on balls. An errant pickoff throw moved him into scoring position for Gleider Figuereo, who sharply lined a ball into the right center field gap to tie the game. Unfortunately the ball was corralled quickly by the center fielder, who threw it to the shortstop to erase Gleider trying to stretch a double, leading to the game being knotted at 2 heading to the 7th.
Joey Danielson came out to pitch the 7th and got two quick strikeouts before running into trouble. Center fielder Sam Petersen singled and swiped 2nd. That was followed by a run-scoring single from shortstop Cortland Lawson, giving the Blue Rocks a 3-2 lead at the 7th inning stretch.
The Spartanburgers offense threatened in the bottom of the 8th with one away. Theo Hardy drew a leadoff walk and moved up on a bunt from Anthony Gutierrez. Keith Jones II got beaned and Cal Stark grounded deep into the hole at shortstop, who fielded and threw it to 3rd late for a fielder’s choice to load the bases. Unfortunately, the threat became idle as Figuereo struck out swinging and Disla popped up to first in foul ground to end the inning.
Mailon Felix kept Hub City in position for a late comeback, leaving 2nd baseman Armando Cruz, who walked with 1 down, stranded at third. But, it was not meant to be as the Burgers went down in order in the bottom of the ninth to drop their 6th straight.
The Burgers (30-32) will look to avoid the sweep Sunday afternoon as Jose Gonzalez (1-5, 3.43) goes up against left hander Jake Bennett (0-1, 9.00). First pitch is set for 2:05 PM.
