Burgers Walk-Off Asheville

After a record-breaking day in which the Spartanburgers batted around four times, hitting four home runs, three doubles, and a triple while also drawing ten walks and taking six hit by pitches en route to a 21-0 shellacking of the Asheville Tourists to even the series, Kamdyn Perry (0-0, 2.00 ERA) would make his first start at home since coming up from Hickory two weeks ago opposite righty Kellan Oakes, who was making his High A debut. 

The second batter of the game, left fielder Caden Powell got the scoring started with a one out laser beam to the berm in left for a solo homer. That would be all the damage as Perry sat the next two. Hub City answered with a towering opposite field home run from Hector Osorio — both his second four bagger at the High A level as well as his second in as many days, making for a tied game heading to the second inning. 

Things did not go as smoothly for Perry in his second frame, as he ended up in a bases-loaded two out situation after walking the leadoff man Kyle Walker and a single to Alejandro Nunez. Following a pair of strikeouts, Zach Daudet walked, setting up a bases-loaded free pass to center fielder Justin Thomas Jr. That would be all the damage as Perry coaxed Powell to fly out to center, holding the Asheville lead at 2-1. 

Once again, Hub City quickly punched back when Luke Hanson took the first pitch of the bottom of the frame just over the railing into the berm for a solo homer, sparking a big inning for the Burgers. Paxton Kling followed the home run with a walk, later swiping second and advancing on a throwing error charged to the catcher. With one away, Quincy Scott II singled in Kling to give Hub City the lead. Following a base on balls to Chandler Pollard, Yeison Morrobel kept his RBI streak going with a base knock to score Scott. The next two went down on strikes to send the game to the third with Hub City on top 4-2. 

Kamdyn Perry avoided trouble in the top of the third despite a one out triple past a diving Kling in right center from first baseman Nehomar Ochoa Jr, bouncing back with a pop up to second and a strikeout. He was not as fortunate in the fourth. 

Catcher John Garcia led off with a single, later advancing all the way to third on an errant pickoff throw. Designated Hitter Freuddy Bautista was then hit in the temple by a pitch and had to exit the game. He was replaced by Cesar Hernandez, who was almost immediately caught stealing for the second out. Daudet singled to plate Garcia, cutting the Burgers’ lead to just a run, but that was all the damage as Thomas Jr whiffed and Daudet was caught stealing to retire the side, preserving a 4-3 Hub City lead. 

Kamdyn Perry was taken down for Kai Wynyard to start the 5th after tossing 4 innings of two-run ball, striking out two with just as many hits and no walks. 

Asheville eventually did chip their way to the lead, with some help from a couple of defensive miscues. Hernandez led off the top of the seventh with a single off Adrian Rodriguez. Morrobel misplayed the ball in left, allowing Hernandez to advance into scoring position and later tie the game on a throwing error charged to Rodriguez that also allowed Daudet to advance to second.

Following a walk to Thomas Jr, a wild pitch, and a strikeout of Powell, Chase Call grounded to third, reaching on a fielder’s choice as Figuereo threw home to get Daudet with ease for the second out. However, Ochoa Jr. later singled to plate Thomas, giving the Tourists a 5-4 lead at the stretch. 

The Spartanburgers equalized things in the bottom half, cashing in a one out Morrobel double with a two out base knock from Osorio. But once again, a miscue came back to haunt in the top of the eighth. 

A one out single from Garcia came home to score thanks to a fielding error charged to Luke Hanson when after a double steal and a strikeout of Daudet, Thomas Jr singled on the infield to plate the go-ahead run, making for a 6-5 Asheville lead. 

The seesaw continued to rock in the home half when Figuereo and Scott II singled back to back with two out. A wild pitch and a Scott stolen base later, Chandler Pollard came up clutch, lacing the payoff pitch into center for a go-ahead two-run single, advancing on the throw-in. Morrobel kept the line moving with a walk and Moore was beaned between the shoulder blades to load the bases, but Osorio flied to left to leave them there with Hub City leading 7-6 going to the ninth. 

There would be even more drama to come as Ochoa Jr doubled off Case Matter with one out. Kyle Walker then lived up to his namesake, working a free pass on a full count. Alejandro Nunez was retired on strikes, but Garcia came up with a clutch single, advancing on a fielding error on Moore off the throw to the plate. Hernandez whiffed to retire the side, but heading to the bottom of the ninth, it was knotted at seven. 

The Burgers threatened after a two out triple to the right field corner from Kling and a walk to Morrobel, who took second on defensive indifference. It was all for naught as Scott whiffed on the payoff pitch to send the game to extras. 

Luke Savage tossed the top half, leaving ghost runner Cesar Hernandez on third after a sac bunt from Daudet, a looking strikeout of Thomas Jr, and an unassisted grounder to first. 

Chandler Pollard almost immediately ended it in the bottom half, laying down a sac bunt  towards the third base side of the mound. He reached as the throw to first went wide and up the right field line from the pitcher Colby Langford, scoring ghost runner Quincy Scott II and giving the Burgers an 8-7 win as well as a 2-1 lead in the series. 

The Spartanburgers (30-29) will look to secure at least a split on Friday night as Caden Scarborough (0-1, 2.57 ERA) faces off against righty Parker Smith (3-3, 6.80). First pitch is set for 7:05 PM.