After a second straight walkoff win, coming when Malcolm Moore launched a three run homer in the bottom of the ninth (the second game-ending four bagger in franchise history) to lock up at least a share of the series, Ismael Agreda (0-4, 5.74 ERA) looked to clinch a win in the six-game set on Saturday evening opposite Asheville right hander Nolan DeVos (1-4, 6.75).
Agreda got the best of the first two innings, retiring the side in order in each one. DeVos walked Malcolm Moore with one out in the bottom of the first, but got out of it with a 6-3 double play off the bat of Hector Osorio.
The bottom of the second was rough for DeVos as Hub City struck for a big blow with two out. Paxton Kling started the rally with a leadoff single, later stealing both second and third. With one away, Gleider Figuereo worked a walk, as did Antonis Macias with two down. Carter Garate came up clutch, taking the payoff pitch into the Burger bullpen on a screaming liner for a grand slam. Yeison Morrobel went down on strikes to end the inning, but Hub City took a 4-0 advantage to the third.
Agreda had to work out of trouble in the top of the third after Asheville loaded the bases with two out. Jack Moss started the inning by reaching on a fielding error charged to Antonis Macias at second. Agreda rebounded by striking out the next two before issuing back to back walks to Kyle Walker and Justin Thomas Jr. But Caden Powell popped up to third to leave Tourists on the highway, preserving the 4-0 Hub City lead.
After the Spartanburgers went down in order in the home half of the third, Asheville broke through in the top of the fourth on a one out solo homer from Alejandro Nunez. Cesar Hernandez followed with a single, but was later caught stealing for the second out. Jack Moss also reached on a base knock, but was left on as Keduar Trujillo struck out swinging to retire the side.
The 4-1 edge held through the next four innings thanks to some stellar pitching from Agreda and Cole Roland. Ismael ended up throwing five complete, giving up just the one earned run on three hits with three walks and five strikeouts, qualifying him for his first win of the season. Roland kept the scoreless streak alive with two three up three down frames, striking out three.
On the flipside, Hub City’s offense once again went quiet after the second inning grand slam. Over the course of the next five frames, the Burgers were held off the scoreboard, leaving a runner in scoring position in two of them — four left on in total. That allowed the Tourists to pull back within two in the top of the eighth.
Luke Savage came on to start the inning and got two quick outs. But then Powell walked and a passed ball advanced him into scoring position, setting up a Chase Call RBI knock. Nunez followed with a base hit, but a 3-1 groundout from Hernandez left two on and kept it a 4-2 lead for the Burgers, who responded in the bottom half.
Paxton Kling doubled past the diving center fielder in the left center gap with one out, scoring two pitches later on a single from Luke Hanson. Figuereo kept the train rolling with a single, later stealing second ahead of an RBI knock from Quincy Scott II, who was later picked off for the second out. Antonis Macias was rung up to end the inning, but heading to the ninth, Hub City opened up a 6-2 cushion.
In spite of loading the bases with no out to start the ninth on three walks, Case Matter got out of it unscathed after a fly ball to right, a strikeout, and a force at second that ended the game, securing a series win and a fourth straight victory for the Burgers (32-29).
The series wraps up tomorrow afternoon at 4:35 PM as DJ McCarty (1-3, 6.25 ERA) takes on righty Dylan Howard (0-1, 8.49).
You must be logged in to post a comment Login