Burgers Drop Game Three to Tourists

Hub City’s dominance on the mound coupled with the bats taking advantage of a mismatch with the starting pitching for Asheville led to a lopsided win in game 2 of the series last night. On Hispanic/Latin American Heritage Night, the Burgers looked to secure at least a split along with their third straight victory behind lefty Dalton Pence (1-1, 1.00 ERA). The Tourists countered with right hander Jean Pinto (1-2, 7.55).

Pence kept the trend of hot starts alive, retiring the first nine batters he faced with 5 strikeouts while the offense gave him an early lead – albeit in a very creative way. In the bottom of the 2nd, Casey Cook drew a leadoff walk and stole 2nd. With 2 away, Quincy Scott II worked a base on balls and later got into a pickle to allow Cook to score before getting tagged out 2-6-3-4 to end the inning with a 1-0 lead.

Things went awry for Pence in the top of the 4th after a leadoff single from 2nd baseman Alejandro Nunez and a fielding error on Gleider Figuereo that allowed catcher Walker Janek to reach. After a line drive to short, Center Fielder Lucas Spence drew a walk to load the bases and right fielder Tyler Whitaker made Hub City pay for it. He grounded into a fielder’s choice, but the forecast 2nd  was not made and all hands were safe as Nunez tied the game. With 2 away, Shortstop Drew Vogel walked to force in a run, ending the night for Pence. He was relieved by newcomer Jesus Gamez, who ended up adding a third run to Dalton’s line by issuing a free pass to Left Fielder Drew Brutcher before settling in and striking out the 9 hole hitter to retire the side.

Unfortunately for Hub City, the opposite of last night’s pitching matchup ended up being true. Pinto’s ERA was not reflected in how he pitched. He exited the game with a no-hitter through 5 innings. That no-no extended for another two-thirds of a frame before Malcolm Moore finally delivered an opposite field 2-bagger down the line in left that unfortunately came to naught as Casey Cook struck out looking to end the inning.

The bullpen did not have a spectacular night in its first extended use in this series to date. Gamez came back out for a full inning and struck out the side. Things unraveled on Victor Simeon in the top of the 6th, after he beaned the leadoff man and followed it by walking Alejandro Nunez. Walker Janek also wore one to load the bases and set up a 2 run single from Will Bush. Spence grounded out to 1st to push across a third in the frame and extend Asheville’s lead to 6-1. After back to back scoreless frames from Josh Sanders and Mailon Felix, the Tourists added a 7th run on a leadoff solo shot in the top of the 9th (off Felix), who struck out the next three.

The Spartanburgers had 2 scoring opportunities go by the wayside over the last 4 innings, starting in the 5th when John Taylor drew a 1 out walk and followed by a fielding error on the shortstop that allowed Quincy Scott II to reach. After a ground ball to 1st moved them both into scoring position, they were left there as Gutierrez grounded out to the shortstop. In the bottom of the 7th, Scott and Wady Mendez walked back to back with 2 down, but Gutierrez once again ended the inning by grounding into a fielder’s choice where Mendez was forced out at 2nd.

In the end, the Tourists took advantage of nine free passes – 6 walks and 3 hit batsmen – to plate 7 runs on 3 hits while Hub City was held to just 2 hits to fall to 2-1 on the series.

The Burgers will look to shake it off on Friday as DJ McCarty (1-4, 5.40) takes on righty Alonzo Tredwell (1-1, 3.55). First pitch is set for 7:05 PM.