After letting the game get away on Saturday, Hub City (2-5) came into Sunday in a situation where they needed a win to salvage a split of the 6 game rivalry set with the Greenville Drive (3-5). DJ McCarty missed his first start of the season on the 7-day injured list, but was activated today in time to face off against Marcus Phillips (0-1, 40.50 ERA).
After facing the minimum in spite of beaning Justin Gonzales with his first pitch, he was staked to something the Burgers have not had much of this season — an early lead. Paxton Kling led off with a first-pitch double to right. Arturo Disla moved him up to third on a grounder to 2nd and Gleider Figuereo dropped an RBI single to shallow center to drive in the first run. Following a wild pitch that moved Gleider into scoring position, Yeison Morrobel grounded to short, but the throw went wide of the bag for a run scoring error. Morrobel was forced at 2nd on a fielder’s choice to end the inning, but Hub City carried a 2-0 lead.
McCarty turned in a clean 2nd inning, which was rewarded with a third run when Cal Stark blasted a 1 out solo shot halfway up the berm in left field. But, the Drive cut that lead to 1 in the ensuing half inning. Adonys Guzman started the Greenville rally with a leadoff knock. From there, McCarty lost his command, walking both Yophery Rodriguez and Nazzan Zanetello on 4 pitches and getting behind 2-0 to Gonzales before he drove in Guzman with a base hit. Henry Godbout followed with a grounder that went for a 5-3 double play, forcing Zanetello and scoring Rodriguez. McCarty got out of the inning with a groundout to short, but the Hub City lead was timed to 3-2.
McCarty came back out to start the 4th, issuing a leadoff walk to Jack Winnay before striking out Isaiah Jackson. Josh Sanders came on to relieve and got Freili Encarnacion to ground into a 6-4-3 twin killing, which set the stage for the Burgers to add on in the bottom half when Paxton Kling led off with a triple to dead center and came home on a balk to make for a 4-2 lead heading to the 5th.
Sanders held things in check for a total of 2 and a third innings before running into trouble in the top of the 6th. Yoeilin Cespedes drew a walk with 1 out. With 1 away, Jackson recorded a knock, Encarnacion was plunked to load the bases, and Guzman cleared them with a double. Cole Stasio came on after that and got out of the jam when Rodriguez singled to left, but Guzman was gunned out at the plate 7-2, making for a 5-4 Drive lead that did not last long.
Yeison Morrobel started the bottom of the frame with a 2-bagger. Quincy Scott laid a bunt toward the third base side of the mound but would end up being safe on the play thanks to an E5 throwing error. With 1 out, Stark grounded to short, and would reach on the fielder’s choice on which Godbout was charged with a throwing error that scored Morrobel. Following a sac bunt from Luke Hanson, Kling drew a walk to put Burgers on the grill for Disla, who worked a 4 pitch walk to plate the go ahead run and give Hub City the 6-5 lead heading to the 7th.
Stasio would end up earning the win in relief with 2 and a third scoreless, 2 hits, no walks, and no strikeouts. Joey Danielson came on for his third appearance of the week and his 2nd save chance. He retired the Drive in order to secure the 6-5 Hub City victory and split the series.
The Burgers will be off tomorrow before traveling to the northeast to take on the Wilmington Blue Rocks in a 6-game set beginning Tuesday night at 6:35 PM. Pitching matchups are to be determined.
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