Burger Lose Opener To Rome

After a successful 4-2 trip for the final road series of the season, the Hub City Spartanburgers (32-28, 63-62 overall) returned to Fifth Third Park for the final 6 games of the regular season, hosting the Atlanta Braves’ high A affiliate, the Rome Emperors. This week will prove to be one of the biggest of the season as Hub City enters with the magic number to clinch a playoff berth down to just 4, meaning that any combination of 4 wins or Greenville losses would get the job done.

The Burgers turned to Dylan MacLean (4-1, 3.46 ERA) to try and help shave that number down at least 1 more. Hub City would not have it easy with the opposition as the Emperors sent right hander Cedric DeGrandpre (2-4, 3.94) to the hill, who dominated the Spartanburgers in his High A debut in Rome well over a month ago.

Things got off to a strong start for MacLean, sitting Rome in order with 2 strikeouts in the top of the first. In the 2nd, he got into a jam when center fielder Isaiah Drake reached on a fielding error on Casey Cook. He was later caught stealing, but that was followed by consecutive base hits from left fielder Logan Braunschweig and first baseman Mason Guerra. But, MacLean rebounded perfectly, striking out the next 2 to retire the side.

Hub City had some early chances with 2 out baserunners in the 1st and 2nd innings, but nothing came of them. Unfortunately, that meant that MacLean would end up pitching from behind after giving up a 2 out solo home run to former Florida State Seminole and 2025 draftee (#4 prospect) shortstop Alex Lodise. That was followed by a double from third baseman Cody Miller and a single from Drake. MacLean got Braunschweig to fly out to center to end the threat down just 1-0.

DeGrandpre kept Hub City off balance at the plate for 2 more innings, with just one more base runner allowed when Casey Cook reached on a fielding error on the first baseman with 2 out, only to be caught stealing later on to end the frame. The Burgers finally got to DeGrandpre in the next inning with a rally that began on a 2 out knock from Luke Hanson. Dylan Dreiling followed it with a double that tied things at 1 heading to the 6th.

MacLean departed after 5 innings of 1-run ball, having struck out 5, walked 1, and given up 5 hits. He gave way to a newcomer to the roster that had been rehabbing for a while – Mark Church. He was done in by a balk after back to back 1 out singles from Drake and Braunschweig, both scoring on a 2 out knock from designated hitter Keshawn Ogans to give the Emperors a 3-1 lead.

The Spartanburgers answered in the home half of the 6th with 2 away when Cook drew a 4-pitch walk that was followed with a run-scoring triple to the right field corner by Maxton Martin. Rafe Perich left him on third with a groundout, but the Rome lead was trimmed to 3-2 heading to the 7th.

Case Matter and Mailon Felix kept Rome off the board despite 3 hits over the final 3 frames, combining to strike out 5, and walk none. Unfortunately, Hub City was also goose egged the rest of the way, finishing the game anticlimactically after a leadoff single in the 9th from Casey Cook was almost immediately erased on a 3-6 double play and Rafe Perich grounded out to short to seal the 3-2 Rome win.

Things were not all bad Tuesday night as Winston-Salem gave the Burgers some help by blanking the Greenville Drive 1-0, dropping the magic number to clinch a postseason berth down to just 3. The series resumes Wednesday night at 6:35 as Aidan Curry (3-2, 4.25) takes on Rome righty Luke Sinnard (2-3, 4.03).