Things did not fare well for the Spartanburgers at Maimonides Park in Brooklyn in game one of the 2025 South Atlantic League Championship Series on Sunday afternoon. They took an early 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly from Malcolm Moore that scored Dylan Dreiling in the top of the 1st. But that was the lone highlight of the day as an 8-run fifth inning by the Cyclones helped them cruise to a 13-1 victory, putting them just a win away from clinching the League Title.
The series came to Spartanburg for the first league championship series game held in the city since 1988 with the Burgers looking to even the series and force a winner-take-all game three on Wednesday night. Dylan MacLean (4-1, 3.29 ERA) got the nod on the mound from Chad Comer, going opposite Cyclone left hander Franklin Gomez (1-2, 4.15). It was a duel between those two through the first 3 innings. MacLean retired the first 3 Brooklyn hitters in succession to start the game. Things changed for him in the 2nd when he gave up a leadoff single to Catcher Ronald Hernandez, but he would be left on 3rd after a balk, fly ball, and a grounder to third.
Trouble finally struck for MacLean in the third when left fielder John Bay lined a triple over the head of right fielder Maxton Martin to lead off the frame. With one out, shortstop Marco Vargas singled to get the Cyclones on the board. Center Fielder Yonatan Enriquez then reached on a fielding error charged to Gleider Figuereo, but was gunned out at 2nd on a double steal for out number 2. Designated Hitter Matt Rudick came up with a knock to up the Brooklyn lead to 2-0. Hernandez made it back to back singles to put men on the corners, but MacLean struck out Yohairo Cuevas to get out of the inning.
On the other side of the coin, Gomez had a perfect game going up through the first 2 innings, broken up by a 1 out Gleider Figuereo single in the 3rd. John Taylor also clocked one for a base hit with 2 away to put runners on the corners. But, the threat would be annulled when Maxton Martin hit a comebacker for an inning-ending 1-3 putout.
Dylan MacLean would get one more inning, retiring the Cyclones in order. He departed after 4 innings, having struck out 3, walked none, and gave up 2 earned on 5 hits. Victor Simeon came on in relief and promptly walked the first 2 batters he faced on 11 pitches. But, after inducing Henriquez to ground into a 4-6-3 double play, Rudick was rung up to retire the side and leave a runner on third.
Hub City mounted their best scoring chance in the ensuing half inning when Brooklyn went to the bullpen for Channing Austin to start the frame. After Arturo Disla flew out to center for the first out, Figuereo, Luke Hanson, and John Taylor drew walks in succession. But Maxton Martin struck out and Ben Hartl flew out to center to leave Burgers on the grill.
Simeon departed after an out in the top of the 5th with no runs on no hits to go with no walks and 2 strikeouts. Jesus Gamez came in to finish out the frame and ended up riding through to the ninth inning, keeping the Cyclones off the board through 2 and two-thirds innings with 5 sat down on strikes, a walk, and no hits.
Thanks to his efforts, Hub City was finally able to crack the scoreboard in the bottom of the 8th to cut the deficit to a run. With 2 out, 3 straight singles from Dylan Dreiling, Casey Cook, and Rafe Perich, the latter of which scored Dreiling. Perich moved up another 90 on an errant throw in from right and Gleider Figuereo was intentionally walked to load the bases. But, that one run was all they could muster as pinch hitter Antonis Macias grounded out to short to end the inning.
Case Matter sat the Cycs in order in the ninth to set up one last chance for the Burgers to extend the season one more night. But, it was not meant to be as they went quietly en route to a 2-1 Brooklyn victory and a series sweep for the Cyclones.
The result may not be the one that was hoped for, but one thing is certain – Minor League Baseball’s return to Spartanburg is one that will never be forgotten, and it appears that the game and the team that fans in this city fell in love with over these last 5 months is here to stay for many years to come.
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