The second season of professional baseball being back in Spartanburg kicked off on Friday night as the defending South Atlantic League South Division Champions welcomed a newcomer to the affiliated Minor League Baseball ranks – the Frederick Keys (Orioles) to Fifth Third Park for a three-game set.
As is the nature with minor league baseball, the Burgers entered the season with some faces from a year ago missing as well as a whole new coaching staff. Last year’s manager Chad Comer was “promoted” to the Double A Frisco Roughriders, taking with him pitching coach Thomas St Clair and development coach Jay Sullenger. Dylan Dreiling, Willian Bormie, Eric Loomis, Dylan MacLean, Julian Brock, and Theo Hardy joined all those who were already promoted last season out of camp in Frisco as well.
Carlos Maldonado, who was the Skipper for Hub City’s sister club, the Low-A Hickory Crawdads, was named the manager for this season, bringing most of his staff with him to guide a Spartanburgers roster that has plenty of key returners such as Anthony Gutierrez, Malcolm Moore, fan-favorite Arturo Disla,Rafe Perich, Quincy Scott II, Cal Stark, Josh Sanders, Anthony Susac, Adonis Villavicencio, and Joey Danielson.
In Friday night’s opener, Dalton Pence, who ended up being a key piece after joining the team in the 2nd half of last season, got the nod and was on fire through the first 3 innings. In the first, he struck out the side on 14 pitches and started the 2nd with a 4th straight K as part of another 1-2-3 frame. Frederick picked up their first hit off him in the top of the third when designated hitter Elis Cuevas laid a bunt single up the third baseline to lead off. However, he was caught stealing and Pence rebounded by recording back to back K’s to hang another goose egg.
Unfortunately, he was not able to get any support from the Hub City bats, which came back to bite in the top of the 4th. Left Fielder Nate George drew a leadoff walk on a full count that was followed by a double off the wall in Chaser’s Corner (left field) from first baseman Ike Irish and 2-run triple from shortstop Wehiwa Aloy, making for a 2-0 deficit heading to the home half of the frame after Pence induced a force play and a grounder to third to get out of the jam.
Once Frederick was given a lead, the key storyline shifted to the effective work of their starter – left hander Joseph Dzierwa. He pitched 6 innings in total and just 3 Spartanburgers hitters managed to reach base against him. Maxton Martin singled in the first and stole 2nd but would be left in scoring position. The next inning, Figuereo walked and advanced on a grounder to first, but was also left in scoring position. He was the last baserunner for the Burgers until the 6th when Quincy Scott II, who came into the game when Gutierrez went down with an injury catching a shallow pop fly in traffic for the 2nd out of the first inning, reached on a dropped fly ball by the right fielder for an E9, eventually being left on third after Paxton Kling struck out swinging.
In total, Dzierwa struck out 9 with just 1 hit and a walk in his 6 innings while he got some more manufactured run support in the top of the 6th. J’Briell Easley came on to start the frame after a scoreless inning and a third from Cole Stasio, and struggled. He walked second baseman RJ Austin, who proceeded to steal 2nd and third in the span on a couple of pitches. After striking out the next man, Cuevas doubled home Austin and later swiped third to set up an RBI single from right fielder Braylin Tavera to double the advantage for the Keys. Tavera later recorded the 4th steal of the frame, but he was left on with Frederick leading 4-0.
Anthony Susac surrendered 2 more earned runs in the top of the 9th, and in the end, the Keys pitching combined to shut Hub City out with 12 strikeouts, just 2 walks, and 1 hit as the Burgers fell 6-0.
They will take another crack at it tomorrow afternoon with first pitch set for 4:35 PM. Ismael Agreda will go against Frederick right hander JT Quinn.
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