After an anticlimactic loss in game 5, Hub City looked to rebound and secure at least a split of the series on Saturday evening as Ismael Agreda (0-2, 5.75 ERA) opposed right hander Riley Maddox (1-2, 3.91).
It did not start ideally for Agreda as Devin Fitz-Gerald took the third pitch of the game into the visitor bullpen. With one out, Angel Feliz singled, later advancing on a wild pitch and stealing 2nd without a throw. But he was left there as Ethan Petry and Elijah Green both went down on strikes.
Hub City delivered a nice counterpunch in the bottom of the frame, cashing in a Paxton Kling leadoff single. A balk moved him into scoring position and Malcolm Moore delivered a 1 out base hit to put men on the corners. Maxton Martin kept the line moving with an RBI knock to tie the game and Gleider Figuereo lifted a sac fly to left to give the Burgers the lead heading to the 2nd.
The Empire struck back (it was Star Wars night) in the ensuing half inning with 2 out after Caleb Farmer drew a walk and Teo Banks followed with a single to put men on the corners. A wild pitch would later plate the tying run, but the go ahead would be left on 2nd as Fitz-Gerald flew to center to retire the side.
Agreda departed after 5 innings, having given up 2 earned on 4 hits with a walk and 7 strikeouts. He gave way to newcomer AJ Russell, who was just called up from Hickory today after 5 starts in which he amassed a 5.00 ERA, a WHIP of 1.44, and a strikeout/walk ratio of 16/5. Russell worked a clean inning in his first High A reps with 2 more K’s and a diving snag in center on a liner from Ethan Petry.
After being hitless since the first inning and going in order in three of the last 4, Malcolm Moore started a 2 out rally in the bottom of the 6th with the first of back to back singles — the other from Maxton Martin. Figuereo kept the train on the rails with a triple off the top of the fence in center field, scoring 2. Quincy Scott drew a walk and later swiped second, but ultimately he and Gleider would be left in scoring position as Carter Garate whiffed, sending the game to the 7th with Hub City up 4-2.
Russell would end up tossing 3 full shutout innings, striking out 4 and walking none with no hits. He gave way to Joey Danielson for the 9th, who in spite of a 1 out double from Feliz coupled with a fielding error charged to Kling in center, struck out the next two to lock down the save and the victory for the Burgers while Russell earned his first win of the season.
The series can either be won or split for Hub City (16-15) tomorrow on Mother’s Day as DJ McCarty (0-1, 7.50) faces Bryan Polanco (0-0, 7.50).
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