After a thrilling extra inning walkoff on Thursday night to take a 2-1 lead in the series, Hub City looked to secure at least a split of the six-game set on a sweltering Friday night at Fifth Third Park.
Rangers #2 prospect Caden Scarborough (0-1, 2.57 ERA) made his 2026 home debut in the contest opposite Asheville right hander Parker Smith (3-3, 6.80).
Both pitchers cruised through the first two innings, with Scarborough having dealt with the most traffic. He left a runner in scoring position in each of the first two frames before striking out the side in the third. In total, despite two hits, Scarborough had no walks and struck out seven in the early going.
On the other hand, Hub City did not get their first base runner until the bottom of the 2nd on a one out single from Luke Hanson, who later advanced on a grounder to short from Paxton Kling. However, any chance of scoring in the inning was shot when it ended in the most unconventional way. Gleider Figuereo took ball four, but the catcher threw a back pick to second, catching Hanson leaning for the third out.
The Burgers offense broke the deadlock in the bottom of the third inning, which started with a single from Quincy Scott II. The bases were loaded eight pitches later when Chandler Pollard and Yeison Morrobel were both hit by pitches. After a strikeout of Malcolm Moore, Hector Osorio lined a double through the right side and down the line to plate two. Maxton Martin would strike out swinging and Luke Hanson grounded to short to end the inning and leave a pair on, but heading to the fourth, the Burgers led 2-0.
Scarborough was pulled with two out in the top of the fourth after issuing his only walk of the game to Alejandro Nunez, who later stole second. Joe Adamet came on to relieve and struck out Cesar Hernandez to keep Caden’s final line at no runs on two hits with seven strikeouts and hold the 2-0 Hub City lead.
Adametz kept that edge intact through three and a third, getting some help from two double plays to work around a single and two errors. But, Hub City’s offense was unable to back him up, leaving a runner on in the fifth, going down in order in the sixth, and squandering a leadoff double from Scott II in the seventh.
That came back to bite in the top of the eighth when Kyle Walker doubled with one out followed by a walk to Justin Thomas Jr. After a double steal and a base on balls to Chase Call, Nehomar Ochoa Jr singled to score two, advancing on the throw-in. Call was later thrown out at third on a back pick and Alejandro Nunez grounded out 1-6-3 to retire the side, but it was a brand new game knotted at two apiece.
Adametz came back out for the ninth after the Spartanburgers once again left a runner in scoring position following a one out single from Maxton Martin in the bottom of the eighth. Adametz struck out the leadoff man before surrendering consecutive singles to Garcia and Moss and walking Zach Daudet. With the sacks juiced, Anthony Susac came on out of the bullpen and got the second out at a cost, getting a comebacker from Walker to plate the go-ahead run.
Thomas Jr then dealt a big blow the very next pitch, singling home two more to close the book on Adametz at five earned runs. After a fielding error charged to Scott II on a pickoff advanced Thomas, Susac whiffed Call to retire the side, but Hub City would go to the bottom of the ninth trailing 5-2.
The Burgers fought back, loading the bases with one out after back to back walks to Figuereo and Scott II to start the frame. Yeison Morrobel later reached on a fielding error and a passed ball scored Figuereo advancing all the runners ninety feet and setting the stage for another heroic moment.
On a full count to Malcolm Moore, he launched a three run walkoff over the home bullpen in right to secure at least a split in the series — marking the second straight walkoff win for the Burgers.
With the victory, the Hub City (31-29) will look to lock up a series win Saturday evening at 4:35 PM as Ismael Agreda (0-4, 5.74 ERA) takes on right hander Nolan DeVos (1-4, 6.75).
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