In a precarious situation with needing to win the finale in order to salvage a split, Hub City (3-5) had the right man for the job on the mound. Jose Gonzalez (1-6, 2.92 ERA), who has turned in quality start in three of his last 4 outings – albeit with just 1 win to show for it – went up against Aberdeen right hander Eccel Correa (0-2, 1.59).
Gonzalez got off to a good start in keeping the trend alive, striking out the side in the first inning. He added a 4th K in 1-2-3 second inning, and did not give up a baserunner until the top of the 3rd when Cole Urman singled off him. Griff O’Ferrall followed it with a 4 pitch walk. But, Vance Honeycutt whiffed to bail him out.
Hub City’s offense gave him some run support with some help from an error in the bottom of the 3rd. Julian Brock led off with a single and advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Quincy Scott II. John Taylor followed it with his first hit since joining the team on Thursday night, scoring Brock, who advanced to third despite being caught stealing thanks to a dropped throw to 3rd. Taylor took 2nd on a groundout from Keith Jones II, but was left there as Casey Cook flew out to the warning track in right to end the inning.
Gonzalez got back to his three up three down ways in the 4th before some tough luck struck for him in the fifth. Following consecutive doubles into right field from Aneudis Mordan and left fielder Jake Cunningham to start the frame, third baseman Angel Tejada lined what would ordinarily be an RBI single into center. It hopped over the head of Dylan Dreiling while Tejada was flying around 1st and rolled all the way to the wall for what would become an inside the park 2-run homer.
A familiar story played out for the Spartanburgers’ bats in the home half of the inning as they worked the bases loaded with 1 away thanks to a Quincy Scott II single and consecutive walks from Taylor and Jones II. But, the tough luck being experienced by the team continued as once again Casey Cook hit the ball on the screws, but right at the first baseman, who doubled off Jones to end the inning.
Gonzalez gave way to Adonis Villavicencio to start the 6th, who was unable to get through his first frame unscathed. He issued a 1 out walk to Right Fielder Austin Overn. Aberdeen manufactured some offense by sending Overn and stealing 2nd and third. He would later come home on a passed ball to extend the lead to 4-1. Hub City was able to respond in the ensuing half inning when Dylan Dreiling led off with a single, eventually coming home on a 2 out clutch single from Yeison Morrobel.
Eric Loomis worked the next two innings, hanging a pair of goose eggs with 5 strikeouts and just one hit – an effort that was rewarded with a win in relief.
With 1 out in the bottom of the ninth, Julian Brock drew a walk that was followed by a game-tying 2 run shot into the Hub City bullpen by Quincy Scott II. John Taylor followed with a single and swiped 2nd, later to advance to third on a fly ball to right from Keith Jones II. After a call to the bullpen, the first pitch from reliever Wyatt Cheney bounced in the dirt for a wild pitch. On the attempt to block it, the catcher pushed the ball up the first base line. Taylor slid in head first ahead of the tag to win it 5-4 and secure the series split.
With this homestand in the books, Hub City will take Monday off and make the trek up I-85 and 285 to Winston-Salem for a split series against the Dash. The first three games will be in Winston-Salem with 6:30 first pitches. The back end of the series over the 4th of July weekend will be at Fifth Third Park.
