After a disappointing series loss last week to Greenville in which the back end of Hub City’s bullpen simply could not hold a lead, the Spartanburgers returned to Fifth Third Park on Tuesday night looking to get the relief pitching back on track in the first of a 6-game homestand against the Asheville Tourists (Astros).
Left hander Mason Molina (0-2, 3.19 ERA) got the start for the Burgers, who retired their first number as a franchise during pregame in a special ceremony honoring Jake Burger and raising awareness for his Burger Family Foundation on “Baseball is for Everyone” night. Molina opposed righty Alain Pena (2-5, 7.92) on a stiflingly hot night for baseball.
Molina started off as hot as the temps, retiring the side in order on 12 pitches in the 1st, working around a 1 out walk and a 2 out single in the 2nd, and striking out three to strand a 2 out walk in the third. He would end up going 6 scoreless with 7 strikeouts, 2 walks, and just three hits. Mason got some help from his defense in a very adverse 5th inning, which started with a double from Left Fielder Drew Brutcher. After rebounding with a strikeout, 2nd baseman Yamal Encarnacion doubled down the right field line, but Yeison Morrobel fielded it quickly and fired to Casey Cook covering first, who then threw a dart to the plate to get Brutcher by a comfortable margin to preserve the lead.
The Spartanburgers bats gave Molina 1 run of support in the bottom of the 3rd when Anthony Gutierrez split the gap in left center for a 2 out 2 bagger. Dylan Dreiling kept the line moving with a high chopper to 2nd that went for an infield single. Encarnacion fielded it and threw to first on the run, but it was wide of the splitting first baseman, allowing Gutierrez to trot home and Dreiling to take 2nd.
Molina gave way to Anthony Susac to start the 7th. He walked right fielder Tyler Whitaker right away, but after inducing a foul pop up to 1st, got Brutcher to ground into a 6-3 double play to retire the side. His 2nd inning of work involved a lot less defensive work as he struck out the side – all swinging – on just 12 pitches.
The Burger bats finally broke the game open in the bottom of the 8th thanks to a bit of help from Asheville’s bullpen. Derek True gave up a leadoff single to Gutierrez, who stole both 2nd and third on back to back pitches. Dylan Dreiling worked a walk on a full count, and Malcolm Moore followed it with a sacrifice fly to left to score Gutierrez. After that, Gleider Figuereo started a train of 4 straight walks, two of which came with the bases loaded to extend the lead to 4-0 heading to the ninth.
Willian Bormie put the exclamation point on a shutout victory by striking out three sandwiched between a leadoff single from Catcher Walker Janek and a 2 out walk to Whitaker. He left those 2 on by retiring Third Baseman Jack Blomgren swinging, upping Hub City’s record to 48-46, 18-13 in the 2nd half.
The Burgers will look to build on the phenomenal pitching performances on Wednesday night as game 2 is set to begin at 6:35 PM. Dylan MacLean (2-0, 3.74) is projected to start opposite Asheville righty Yeriel Santos (0-8, 8.17).
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