Burgers Notch First Win of Season

After Greenville mounted a late-inning comeback to take the opener and deal Hub City their third straight loss of the season’s opening week, right hander Enrique Segura made his Spartanburgers debut in game 2, going opposite the Drive’s Luis Cohen — also a right handed pitcher.

Segura was efficient in the top of the first, retiring Greenville in order with 2 strikeouts — the last of which was first baseman Jack Winnay, who reached all 5 times he came to the plate in game one. That was rewarded with an early Hub City lead for the 2nd straight night when Gleider Figuereo lined an 0-2 pitch to the giant pile of construction dirt beyond the visitor bullpen with 1 out.

After another quick 1-2-3 frame from Segura, the Burgers added on in the home half of the 2nd. Following a brief delay for a fire alarm in the ballpark, Arturo Disla led off by splitting the right center gap with a double off the fence. Back to back ground ball outs from Yeison Morrobel and Antonis Macias brought him home before Rafe Perich struck out swinging to end the inning with Hub City leading 2-0.

Segura did not surrender a base runner until the top of the third when he issued a walk to center fielder Nazzan Zanetello, who would advance all the way to third thanks to a steal and a grounder to 1st. But, Enrique left him there by getting designated hitter Justin Gonzalez to fly out to center.

In near Déjà vu fashion, Hub City left a man on third after a leadoff single from Chandler Pollard, and to start the 4th, Carlos Maldonado and staff opted to make an early call to the bullpen, bringing on righty Brock Porter. Things got off to a shaky start for him as he issued a base on balls to shortstop Yoeilin Cespedes. Winnay would follow by reaching base for the first time of the night, taking a pitch off his helmet. Porter settled in from there, retiring the next three via a fly ball to center and consecutive swinging strikeouts.

The Spartanburgers finally managed to get some big insurance, cashing in a leadoff double from Malcolm Moore in the bottom of the frame with a clutch 2 out homer from Macias that mirrored Figuereo’s back in the first inning. Perich kept the inning going with a walk, ending the night for Cohen. Greenville brought in Alex Bouchard, who got the Drive out of the inning by coaxing a soft liner to short from Pollard. But, the Burgers doubled their lead heading to the 5th.

Bouchard held Hub City at bay despite threats in three of the next 4 innings. The Burgers went 0 for their last 5 with runners in scoring position and stranded 3. But at last the Spartanburgers bullpen was able to string together zeros.

Thomas Ireland ended up notching a hold with 2 and a third scoreless no hit frames with 4 strikeouts and Joey Danielson sat the Drive in order with a K in the 9th to record the save as the Burgers picked up their first victory of the season 4-1 to even the series at a game a piece.

Game three is set for tomorrow night at 6:35 PM as J’Briell Easley (0-0, 18.00 ERA) is set to face right hander Juan Valera (0-0, 5.40).