Burgers Drop Series to Drive

In the third of 4 six-game sets between Hub City and Greenville, the Burgers made the short trek over to Fluor Field looking to put some separation between them and the Drive in the standings. Naturally, with this being a rivalry series, winning games would not come without a fight. Greenville has been a much better team over the last few weeks than they were when these two squads last met in Mid May – which even then was a struggle for Hub City with their offense in the midst of a slump that dragged on for well over a month.

In this series, the story for both sides was pitching. For perspective, the Burgers’ starting pitching amassed 20 innings of just 1-run baseball through the first 5 games. The bullpen, on the other hand, was Jekyll and Hyde, giving up 13 runs in that same span, with just 10 scoreless frames. For Greenville, the bullpen was the picture of consistency, allowing just 6 runs in 27 and a third innings of work over the first 5 contests. In essence, it could be said that whoever’s bullpen was on would be the team to come out on top in any given game this set.

In the opener on Tuesday night, it was Hub City that drew first blood when Arturo Disla followed a 2 out walk to Gleider Figuereo on a 2-run blast over the fence in left center just beyond the green monster. Disla would later add on when he scored on a 2 out wild pitch with the bases loaded. Unfortunately that was all the offense the Burgers could muster the rest of the way, and in the interim, after 5 innings of 1 run ball on just 2 hits with 6 strikeouts from starter Mason Molina, the Drive chipped away on the bullpen. Eric Loomis gave up 1 earned run on a hit and a walk with a K in the 8th. Joey Danielson came on to try for a save, but his first pitch dropped in front of Dylan Dreiling, whose feet came out from under him while backtracking for a leadoff double from Nelly Taylor. The very next pitch ended the game in loud fashion when Johanfran Garcia launched it over the green monster for a walkoff 2-run shot.

In game 2, Josh Trentadue took to the bump and tossed 4 scoreless no-hit innings with 7 strikeouts and 2 walks. Greenville’s John Holobetz matched and ultimately outlasted Josh, going 5 and two thirds with just 1 earned on 7 hits with 5 retired on strikes and no walks. That 1 run came in the top of the 6th when a leadoff single from Gleider Figuereo led to a 2 out 2-RBI single off reliever Darvin Garcia from John Taylor. Hub City added one more in the frame thanks to a rash of walks by Garcia. His fourth of the inning, issued to Quincy Scott II, forced home Yeison Morrobel to make for a 3-1 Burger lead.

That changed when the Drive hung a 4-spot in the bottom of the 7th and added another in the 8th off Willian Bormie and Adonis Villavicencio respectively to complete the comeback for a 7-3 win to take a 2-0 lead in the series.

The Spartanburgers finally got back in the win column Thursday night thanks to one of their best pitched games all season up and down the board. Dylan MacLean got the start and put together 4 scoreless with 2 strikeouts, 1 hit, and no walks. Victor Simeon came on and bounced back from his tough go last Sunday in the rain against Brooklyn with 2 goose eggs in spite of a pair of walks and a hit with a K. Joey Danielson followed with 2 more zeros on the scoreboard with 2 more sat down on strikes and a hit to rebound from his blown save and loss in the opener. His line included some revenge on Johanfran Garcia, striking him out to end the 8th. Eric Loomis finished it off by notching his 4th save of the year with a strikeout and a knock in 1 inning of work.

On the offensive side, Rafe Perich had a big night. In the 2nd inning, following a Casey Cook leadoff single with a double. John Taylor made it three straight hits to take a 1-0 lead, and with 1 out, Quincy Scott II lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Perich. In the top of the 6th, Rafe made his presence known once more as he demolished one over the green monster for his first high A home run to make for the final tally of 3-0 in Hub City’s first win of the series.

The Burgers started game 4 off strong, working the bases loaded with nobody out in the top of the 1st with a leadoff single and back to back bases on balls. After 2 quick strikeouts, Casey Cook clutched up with an RBI single that was followed by a run-scoring wild pitch to make for a 2-0 lead through half an inning. But, thanks to some incredible work out of the bullpen from Manuel Medina, Adam Smith, and Jonathan Brand to shut the Burgers down for 8 innings, that was all the offense for them in this game. DJ. McCarty and Adonis Villavicencio combined to give up 4 over the next three and two-thirds as Greenville got the 4-2 victory to put themselves in position to win the series.

Hub City successfully spoiled that on Saturday night as the Burgers once again got a phenomenal combined pitching performance. Kolton Curtis carried a perfect game into the 5th inning before walking two and giving up a single to load the bases. He was taken down for Josh Sanders, who got out of the jam. Sanders would end up tossing 2 and a third scoreless with a strikeout and 2 hits to earn the win in relief. Willian Bormie gave up the lone Greenville run unearned on a passed ball in the bottom of the 8th. He would end up getting the save with a scoreless ninth, with a final line of 3 strikeouts, 2 walks, and 1 hit.

Offensively, Julian Brock drove in 2 with an RBI single and a run-scoring line out to center. Arturo Disla and Yeison Morrobel added solo homers in the top of the 7th to help push the Burgers to a 4-1 win and a chance to salvage a split in the series finale.

Sunday’s finale could be called a “bookend”, or perhaps “deja vu.” The Burgers sent Jose Gonzalez to the hill, and he was on point through 5 and two-thirds frames of 1-run ball – his lone blemish being a solo shot from Johanfran Garcia. Jose struck out 2, walked none, and surrendered just the 1 run despite 5 hits – leaving with another bit of deja vu.

The Burgers, as they did in all but 2 games in this set, jumped out to a 3-0 lead early – all three coming in the top of the 3rd inning. John Taylor got it started, getting hit by a pitch with one out, and advancing on a wild pitch. Wady Mendez drew a walk, setting up an RBI knock by Anthony Gutierrez. Disla later added 2 more with a hard-hit grounder through the 6 hole that rolled all the way to the green monster for a double. But, as has been the story all series, the buck stopped there for the bats.

Hub City had a huge chance to add on after the Disla 2 bagger, but left the bases loaded. They left a man on third in the 8th and the bases loaded once more in the ninth. That added another 5 scoreless frames to the impressive week of work for Greenville’s bullpen and allowed the Drive to once again chip away late.

The bottom of the ninth turned quickly when Adrian Rodriguez failed to log an out, walking the bases loaded for Red Sox top prospect Franklin Arias, who bookended the series with a walkoff line drive single off the monster to win it 4-3 and hand Greenville their first win in a round of the I-85 rivalry, which is knotted at 9 a piece with one series left to go at the end of August at Fifth Third Park.

Hub City, now 48-47 (17-13) and tied for first place with Bowling Green atop the SAL South 2nd half standings, now leads the Drive by just 2 games in the race for a potential playoff berth (should the Burgers not win the half outright). The Burgers will return home to the Fraction after a day off on Monday for their first-ever meeting with the Asheville Tourists – high A affiliate of the Astros. Tuesday’s first pitch between pitchers yet-to-be-named is set for 6:35 PM.