Burgers Drop Game Three To Drive

After evening the series last night with a 4-1 victory, Hub City (1-3) looked to make it a win streak on Thursday in game three of six this week against the Greenville Drive (1-4). J’Briell Easley got the start for the Burgers.

Easley’s  ERA ballooned to 18.00 with a rough go of it out of the bullpen Saturday in game 2 of the opening weekend set with Frederick, surrendering 2 runs on 2 hits with a walk in a 7-6 setback for the Spartanburgers. He would look to lower that Thursday going up against Juan Valera (0-0, 5.40 ERA).

Through the early innings, the line scores almost mirrored one another. Easley only ended up being given 2 innings, but was effective, lowering his average down to a 6.00 thanks to hanging a goose egg while facing the minimum in both frames with 2 strikeouts.

On the other side, Valera’s already-deadly fastball that topped off at 102 in the first inning and consistently hit mid to upper 90s on the gun all night paired with an aggressive approach by the Hub City hitters, helped him cruise. He struck out each of the first 4 he faced before Yeison Morrobel singled, later to be caught stealing before Antonis Macias struck out swinging to send the game to the third inning.

Easley gave way to Joe Adametz, who kept the string of quick innings going with a pair of K’s in a three up 3 three down frame. He ran into some trouble in the 4th, giving up a leadoff double to right fielder Justin Gonzalez followed by a wild pitch. However, Adametz would lock in to leave Gonzalez on third with back to back strikeouts and a line drive to left.

Valera managed to strand a Hub City runner in each of the next two innings, punching out 2 more along the way before being taken down after 5 shutout innings with 9 strikeouts, a walk, and 2 hits. He was relieved by Joey Gartrell to start the 6th, and Hub City mounted their first and best scoring chance of the game off him.

Luke Hanson started things off with a base hit and later swiped 2nd. With 2 out, Malcolm Moore and Arturo Disla drew back to back walks to load the bases. However it would all come to naught as Yeison Morrobel flew out to right to leave burgers on the grill.

That would end up coming back to bite Hub City as Greenville finally broke the stalemate in the ensuing half inning. Designated hitter Henry Godbout led off with a single, shortstop Yoeilin Cespedes drew a one out walk, and Isaiah Jackson cashed in by lining a triple on a hop past the outstretched glove of Maxton Martin all the way to the right field corner for 2 RBIs. Adametz got second baseman Nazzan Zanetello to ground out to short to get out of the inning, but the bats would have a tall task ahead of them the rest of the way — especially given how well pitched the game had been for Greenville.

Cole Stasio kept the Burgers within striking distance with a 1-2-3 ninth inning, striking out 2 more Drive hitters along the way. But, Steven Brooks closed the door, picking up a 6-out save — all six coming via the K, scattering 2 walks as Greenville defeated Hub City to reclaim the lead in the series 2-1.

Friday night, the Burgers will look to bounce back as they send Dalton Pence (0-1, 3.86 ERA) to the hill against Drive righty Kason Witherspoon (0-1, 10.80). First pitch for another fireworks Friday is set for 7:05 PM.