Burgers Win Finale; Clinch Playoff Birth

The Spartanburgers fans, employees, and media alike all showed up to the ballpark on Sunday afternoon with their eyes situated on one thing. They were scoreboard watching, most with the foreknowledge that Greenville was playing a double header and that a Drive loss in the first game of that twin bill in Winston-Salem would clinch a playoff berth for the Burgers without even needing to throw a pitch. That ended up being the case as the Dash defeated the Drive handily in the 7-inning affair 13-2.

All the excitement, celebration, and fanfare aside, there was a game still to be played Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third park to wrap up the inaugural regular season. Kolton Cirtis (3-3, 5.43 ERA) took to the bump opposite righty Adam Maier (4-10, 5.50).

With the postseason clinched, the Burgers opted to save their best arms for Tuesday’s postseason opener, meaning Curtis would only see 3 innings of work. He was effective, striking out 3, walking none, and hanging a zero and exiting with a no-hitter going.

In the interim, Hub City’s offense gave him some run support with a 4 spot in the bottom of the 2nd. The inning started with a leadoff walk to Gleider Figuereo. Next man up Ben Hartl was beaned followed by a single from Arturo Disla to load the bases. Antonis Macias grounded to 2nd for a fielders’ choice in which Macias reached to score Figuereo. Luke Hanson added an RBI with a knock that was followed by a 2-run triple to the left field corner from Casey Cook. A pop up to 2nd and a comebacker left Cook there, but heading to the 3rd, the Spartanburgers led 4-0.

Adrian Rodriguez came on to work the 4th and promptly broke up the no-hit bid with a single from 2nd baseman Colby Jones. He later swiped 2nd ahead of a walk to shortstop Cody Miller. A double steal attempt went awry for the Emperors when Jones was thrown out at third for the first out. Center fielder Isaiah Drake later singled, but a strikeout and a ground ball to 2nd retired the side with no damage done.

Newcomer Ismael Agreda came on to start the next inning after the Burgers squandered a 2 out Luke Hanson single in the bottom of the 4th. Agreda was throwing gas, topping at 99 on his fastball, and he got results. He surrendered a 2 out single to 1st baseman Mason Guerra, but left him on with his first strikeout as a Burger. He did not have as easy of a time in his 2nd frame, allowing the leadoff man to reach on fielding error on an attempted bunt for a hit. Cody Miller followed with a base hit and Logan Braunschweig would later reach with one out on a dropped throw to first for an error on Disla. Lead runner Colby Jones was caught stealing at third for the 2nd out, but the Disla error came back to bite as Justin Janas singled to score Rome’s lone run of the day.

In the end, Agreda earned the win in his debut with Hub City, going 2 and two-thirds with 2 strikeouts, 3 hits, no walks, and just 1 unearned run. Mailon Felix and Jesus Gamez combined to go the rest of the way, striking out 2 more with 1 hit and no free passes issued in an inning and a third.

Hub City added insurance runs in the 6th and 8th, salvaging the series finale and ending the regular season with a 6-1 victory. The Spartanburgers’ (65-66, 34-32 on the 2nd half) postseason run begins at home Tuesday night as they host the first game of the South Atlantic League South Division Championship Series – a best of three – with first pitch set for 6:35 PM. Pitching matchups are yet to be determined, but regardless of the result in game 1, the second will be at Bowling Green on Thursday night. If needed, game three will be on Friday. The winner of the series will move on to face the winner of the north division in a best-of-three SAL Championship series beginning on September 14th. That series will start on the road and come to Spartanburg for games 2 and three (should Hub City make it that far).