Burgers Get 5th Win in Series on Sunday

After clinching the series on Saturday night, Hub City looked to finish the series with a 5 win week. They would turn to DJ McCarty (0-2, 6.00 ERA) to try and make it happen.

The Burgers once again dealt the first blow in the top of the 1st, capitalizing on a leadoff hit by pitch to Maxton Martin. Rafe Perich followed it by sending the 2nd pitch he saw over the fence in dead center to make it 2-0 heading to the bottom of the frame after the next three all went in order.

McCarty got into a quick jam in the home half after beaning Justin Thomas Jr and walking Jason Schiavone back to back to start the frame. A 6-4-3 double play and a fly out to left got McCarty out of it unscathed.

In the top of the 2nd, Hub City added on when Quincy Scott reached on a dropped third strike. After a steal, he came all the way around on a 2 out single from Luke Hanson, making it 3-0.

Asheville got a run back in the bottom of the 2nd when Caden Powell singled and advanced on a sac bunt. He scored on a Chase Call RBI single, cutting the deficit to 3-1 heading to the third.

After Hub City went down in order for the first time on the day and Asheville stranded a 2 out Drew Brutcher single in the bottom of the 3rd, the Burgers extended their lead back to three in the top of the 4th.

Quincy Scott doubled with 2 out and Chandler Pollard followed by grounding through the 6 hole. It got by the shortstop initially but the 2B backing up the play botched his fielding attempt for an error to score Scott and allow Pollard to take 2nd. That made it 4-1 in favor of the Burgers, but that did not last long.

In the bottom of the frame, leadoff man Kyle Walker reached when Rafe Perich dropped a pop up in front of the plate. Call followed with a 2 run homer to left. After a double and single followed that, Thomas Jr lifted an RBI sac fly to left. Consecutive K’s got McCarty out of the inning, but the Tourists had tied the game at 4.

From there, the game became a trade of blows. The Spartanburgers hung a three spot on back to back two baggers from Martin and Perich followed by a two run homer from Moore. Asheville got them back in the ensuing half inning on a two out three run shot from Zach Daudet.

The Burgers hung a 5 spot in the 6th behind a pair of solo bombs from Hanson and Perich as well as a 2 RBI double from Figuereo and another run scoring 2 base knock from Morrobel.

Asheville proceeded to get all 5 back in the home half when they loaded the bases on a walk and consecutive singles. The next man reached on a fielder’s choice that was dropped by Gleider on the transfer to score a run. After a pop up to 2nd for the first out, Call struck again with a 2 run double followed by back to back wild pitches that plated two more. All that tied the game at 12 heading to the 7th.

Both sides went three up three down in the frame. But the Burgers exploded once more in the 8th. After consecutive singles from Perich and Moore, Kling sent one over the right center fence for a go-ahead three run homer. Gleider Figuereo made it back to back, sending one out of right field for a solo bomb. Those home runs were followed by a single from Morrobel, a walk to Scott, and a 1 out infield single to third from Hanson. But, the threat to add on did not come to pass as a 3-6-3 double play got the Tourists out of the inning down 16-12.

Asheville mounted a threat in the bottom of the 8th off Cole Roland after consecutive singles to start. But, a 4-3 twin killing and a strikeout wet that firewood before it kindled. Instead, the Burgers added on in the top of the 9th.

Moore doubled with 1 away followed by a walk to Kling. After a wild pitch, Figuereo drove in 2 more with a base hit. They went on to load the bases with 2 down after back to back walks to Scott and Pollard. After bringing on Keduar Trujillo to pitch — a backup catcher, his first pitch was wild, scoring Figuereo to cap a 3 spot, making for a 19-12 lead heading to the bottom of the ninth.

Jesús Gamez came on to work the ninth, walking the leadoff man, as advancing him on a wild pitch. Gamez got the next two on strikes, but after a passed ball and two walks, the Tourists loaded the bases. But, Kyle Walker whiffed on a full count to end the series with a 5th victory in 6 games for the Burgers, and securing a win in relief for Roland.

Hub City (21-17), will return home this Tuesday to take on the Atlanta Braves-affiliated Rome Emperors at Fifth Third Park. First Pitch for Tuesday’s opener is set for 6:35 PM.