After notching the biggest series win of the season to date on Saturday night coming on the 2nd straight walkoff win – this time courtesy of John Taylor, Hub City was looking for their first sweep in franchise history on a hot and sticky Sunday afternoon.
Jose Gonzalez (3-6, 2.73 ERA) started for Hub City, going opposite right hander Nate Dohm (1-2, 3.07). Unfortunately, Gonzalez, who has had a trend of having a slow start and then settling in en route to a quality start (or just shy of one), didn’t have his sharpest of stuff.
After getting the first batter of the game to pop up to left, he struggled through the rest of the opening frame. The next two batters – Eli Serrano III and AJ Ewing both walked on full counts followed by an RBI single from Third Baseman Boston Baro. Gonzalez did settle in after that, retiring the next two on line drives to right and center. But, the offense was left in a familiar spot for this series – down a run against a solid pitching staff.
Dohm, like the Cyclone starters before him in this series, was effective. He only went 2 shutout innings, but in that stretch, he allowed just 1 base runner on a 2 out double from Yeison Morrobel in the bottom of the 2nd that came on a deflected grounder by the 2nd baseman. Aside from that, Dohm struck out 4 with no walks. He gave way to Frank Elissalt, who also notched 2 shutout frames with 3 strikeouts and a hit – a 1 out base knock from Quincy Scott II in the bottom of the third, who was later caught stealing.
Gonzalez settled in with 2 relatively quick shutout frames with a walk and a hit before trouble found him again in the top of the 4th. The inning started with three straight singles, the third of which was for an RBI from DH Corey Collins. With 1 away, the big blow was dealt when right fielder Troy Schreffler Jr hit his 2nd homer of the season as well as this series – a no doubt shot into the Cyclone bullpen in right. Jose got the next two with a single, a pickoff, and a strikeout. But, that would end his night after 4 innings with 5 earned on 7 hits and 3 walks.
Gonzalez was relieved by Victor Simeon to start the 5th inning as rain moved into the area. Despite a steady rain shower through the entire top of the frame, the game played on. Unfortunately, command issues became an issue for Victor and he walked each of the first three hitters he faced, leading to a bases-clearing triple down the right field line and into the corner from first baseman Ronald Hernandez. After a hit batsman, Catcher Onix Vega doubled in another run to end Simeon’s day without an out to his line and 4 earned. Mailon Felix came on and got two outs with a K and a pop up to short. But, that would send the game into a weather delay with Hub City down 9-0.
After an hour and 52 minute stoppage, Adonis Villavicencio came on and got the last out of the top of the 5th on 1 pitch – a grounder to 2nd. In the ensuing half inning, the Spartanburgers finally began to chip away with a little help from two errors in the frame. Cook led off with a single and advanced on an errant throw to 2nd trying to force him on a fielder’s choice. With one down, Rafe Perich grounded to the shortstop, who threw the ball wide of first base to score Cook. Quincy Scott II followed with a run-scoring knock, In the end, just 2 runs would come across as Anthony Gutierrez grounded into an inning-ending 5-3 twin killing.
Following the game’s first conventional three-up three-down frame by any Hub City arm, the Burgers cut another off the deficit with the 2nd home run of the season for Malcolm Moore – a solo shot lined into the home bullpen in right, making for a 9-3 game heading to the 7th.
Villavicencio ran into trouble once more in the top of the 7th with 2 out when a leadoff single was cashed in thanks to a single and consecutive bases on balls – the 2nd of which forced in a run. Two more run-scoring hits pushed the Brooklyn advantage out to 10 runs before newcomer Adrian Rodriguez got Collin Houck looking to retire the side.
Rodriguez would come back out for a full inning in the 8th, striking out the side there. Josh Sanders added one more clean frame, but Hub City could do little more than an idle threat in the ninth.
After a leadoff single from Dylan Dreiling and a 2 out fielders choice off the bat of John Taylor in which all hands were safe on a bobbled ground ball by the shortstop, Rafe Perich ended the game on a 3-1 grounder to first, resulting in a 13-3 final.
With the series won, Hub City (15-9, 46-43 overall) will get back on the horse Tuesday following a day off for a big 6-game road set with the Greenville Drive. First pitch from Fluor Field between two arms yet to be named is set for 6:45 PM.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login