Burgers Drop High Scoring Contest to Tourists

After taking the first three games of the series using some big innings — with historic contributions in the third contest on Thursday night in which the Burgers notched a new franchise single-game record 18 runs on 19 hits as well as a single-game record for RBIs in a game going to Luke Hanson, who collected 9 in a 3-6 night with 2 homers, one of which was a grand slam in the 9th. What is more impressive is that Hanson has driven in 14 so far in the series with 5 in the opener on Tuesday.

Going for the series win and following the promotion of usual Friday starter Dalton Pence, Hub City threw Joe Adametz (2-2, 4.50 ERA) opposite right hander Parker Smith (1-2, 8.44).

The Burgers landed the first punch of the night when Rafe Perich doubled off the monstrous wall in right field. Malcolm Moore drew a walk to follow, later to be forced on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Paxton Kling, but the throw to 1st went in the dirt and to the dugout railing for an error, scoring Perich. That would be all as Gleider Figuereo lined to center to retire the side with Hub City leading 1-0.

Adametz had virtually no success, getting just one out. Things began to go south on him quickly with a leadoff homer from Justin Thomas, back to back doubles from Jason Schiavone and Ethan Frey, a fielding error on Luke Hanson that allowed Freuddy Bautista to reach, a 2 run homer from Alejandro Nunez, and a single from Chase Call. The lone out Adametz recorded was a looking strikeout of Kyle Walker, which Caden Powell followed with an RBI single to prompt a call to the bullpen.

Josh Sanders came on to relieve and promptly gave up a base hit to Zach Daudet, but he was later caught stealing for the 2nd out. Justin Thomas drew a walk in his 2nd plate appearance of the frame, but was also gunned out stealing to end the inning with Asheville having sent 11 to the dish, scoring 6.

Hub City got a couple of base runners aboard in the 2nd after a leadoff walk to Yeison Morrobel, later erased on a force at short. Antonis Macias beat the throw to 1st, but was later forced himself on a 4-6 fielder’s choice off the bat of Luke Hanson with 2 out to retire the side.

Sanders got a couple of quick outs after Schiavone was gunned out trying to stretch a double on a leadoff base hit off the left center field fence. Frey struck out swinging, but the Tourists went on to load the bases from there via consecutive walks to Bautista and Nunez followed by a knock from Call. Walker then cleared them with a double, taking third on the throw home. Daudet stuck out swinging to end the inning, but the Asheville lead was extended to a commanding 10-1.

It got no better from there as the Tourists continued to pour on after the Burgers went three up three down in the top of the third. Schiavone and Frey once again went back to back with 2-baggers with one away and Nunez drew a 2 out base on balls. Call and Walker followed with consecutive home runs off Mailon Felix. After walking Powell and a Daudet double, Thomas singled in 2 more to make for a 7 spot and a 17-1 advantage heading to the 4th.

The Burgers squandered a chance to chip away in the fourth frame that started with a leadoff double to center from Paxton Kling. He was left on third after Figuereo struck out and Morrobel and Macias were both retired on comebackers. Though Felix kept Asheville off the scoreboard for the first time all night in the bottom half, the Tourists once again hung a crooked number.

Luke Savage came on for the bottom of the 5th and surrendered a base hit and a double back to back to Powell and Daudet. Thomas then drew a walk to load the bases for Schiavone, who drove in two more with a single. Frey plated one more, grounding into a 5-4-3 double play that made it 20-1 heading to the 6th inning.

The Tourists went on to take a 23-1 lead until the top of the 8th. Malcolm Moore sent one over the scoreboard with 1 out, which started a good rally for the Burgers despite the deficit. Kling followed with a walk and Figuereo doubled to set up a Yeison Morrobel RBI sac fly. After Macias drew a walk, Chandler Pollard and Theo Hardy strung together consecutive run scoring knocks. Maxton Martin kept the line moving with a base on balls, but Moore grounded to 1st unassisted to retire the side with Asheville up 23-6.

Theo Hardy worked around a leadoff single by retiring the next three, and once again the Spartanburgers rallied.

Kling kicked it off with a leadoff solo shot to right center. Morrobel walked with 1 out and Macias was beaned. Pollard followed with an RBI single. Hardy worked a walk and Martin drove in another with a base knock. With 2 away, Moore singled on the infield but the throw attempt from the 2B went way over the 1B’s head, scoring another. Kling whiffed to end the game, as the Tourists went on to win 23-11.

The Burgers will take another crack at winning the series on Saturday night at 6:05 as a Hub City arm yet to be named will face righty Dylan Howard (0-0, 7.82 ERA).