Burgers Double-Dip Blue Rocks

After letting a 7-1 lead get away in a game where there were 22 combined runs scored, 20 hits, and 6 errors that led to a 14-8 loss in the opener, the wait to try and bounce back would be dragged out by a long night of severe weather.

The Burgers and Blue Rocks would end up playing a double header on Thursday evening featuring a pair of 7-inning contests. In the first game, Dalton Pence (0-1, 3.10 ERA) faced off against righty Josh Randall (2-1, 2.70).

Pence worked out of trouble with 2 runners on in each of the 4 innings he tossed, amassing 4 hits and 3 walks. But, he managed to keep Wilmington off the board with 5 strikeouts. The Hub City offense complemented his work with 4 runs of support.

Rafe Perich got the scoring started by leading off the bottom of the 2nd with a missile to right that went off the electrical boxes on the front of the light pole in the home bullpen. In the third, Arturo Disla crushed the longest homer in Fifth Third Park history, going out of the stadium and into the plaza beyond the left field gate for a 481 foot tape measure shot.

The Burgers added two more in the 4th when Perich, Gleider Figuereo, and Yeison Morrobel each singled with 1 out to load the bases. Antonis Macias followed by grounding to third for a fielder’s choice where Morrobel was forced, but Macias beat the errant throw to score Perich and Figuereo, giving Hub City a 4-0 lead heading to the 5th, where a familiar story line played out.

Mailon Felix came on to start the frame and gave up a leadoff single to Ronny Cruz. With 1 out, he issued a walk to Elijah Green and another single to Catcher Kevin Bazzell to load the bases for Dorman alum TJ White, who got the Blue Rocks on the board with a sac fly. Felix walked Randal Diaz to re-load the bases, leading to the big blow of the frame — a no doubt grand slam into the Hub City bullpen in right by first baseman Hunter Hines.

That prompted a call to the bullpen for Jesus Gamez, who after walking right fielder Teo Banks, got a break when he was caught stealing to retire the side with Wilmington leading 5-4.

Gamez worked the game’s first clean inning in the top of the 6th, which was rewarded when Wilmington went to the bullpen to start the home half of the frame. Perich and Figuereo both worked full count walks followed by a single from Morrobel that tied the game. After a sacrifice bunt from Antonis Macias, Carter Garate lined a 2 run double to left center, giving the Burgers a 7-5 lead heading to the 7th.

Joey Danielson would go on to collect the save, striking out the side except for a 1 out single and a walk.

Enrique Segura (0-0, 5.54) would get the nod for game two, opposing right hander Yoel Tejeda (0-2, 5.48).

It did not take long for Wilmington to get the offense going as Segura struggled with command. Ronny Cruz singled on the first pitch of the game. And advanced on a chopper to third from Ethan Petry. Angel Feliz followed with an RBI knock but was later erased on a 6-4-3 double play to send the game to the home half of the frame with Hub City trailing 1-0.

The offense mustered just two base runners across the first three innings, both coming on walks and both amounting to nothing. With no run support for Segura and his struggles to find the strike zone, the Blue Rocks took advantage with what at the time felt like it was going to be a decisive blow.

With 1 out, Segura issued consecutive free passes to Banks and Cruz that Ethan Petry made hurt with a 3 run blast off the face of the video board in right center, upping the ante to 4-0.

Tejeda carried a no-hitter into the bottom of the 6th that was finally broken by Luke Hanson with one out on a single. With 2 away, Disla also notched a base hit on which the right fielder botched the fielding attempt, allowing Hanson to score. Perich, Martin, and Figuereo drew consecutive walks, with Gleider’s forcing home Disla. Yeison Morrobel capped the rally with a 2 run single through the right side, tying the game at 4 heading to the 7th.

It would ultimately take extra innings to decide this contest. Cole Stasio, who came on to relieve Brock Porter after 3 and two thirds scoreless in the top of the 7th, was given a break when ghost runner Angel Feliz was gunned out at third 6-5 on a fielders’ choice Elijah Green reached on. TJ White followed with a bloop single to left, but back to back deep fly balls got Stasio out of the inning.

In the home half, Arturo Disla flied to right to advance Hub City ghost runner Chandler Pollard to third, setting up Rafe Perich to be the hero. On a full count with the infield playing in, Perich sent one through the 6 hole, scoring Pollard to secure the double header sweep for the Burgers, who improved to 15-14 and took a 2-1 lead in the series.

The series continues at 7:05 tomorrow night as J’Briell Easley (0-0, 3.72 ERA) faces right hander Isaac Lyon (0-0, 2.08) with Hub City looking to lock up at least a split if the 6-game set.