After a tough night on both sides of the ball — 13 runs on 15 hits with 13 walks for the pitching, and just seven base runners — five of which were left on with just one run scored for the bats, Hub City (playing as the Spartanburg Pastimes) were put into a situation where they had to win the finale on Sunday to salvage a split in the series.
DJ McCarty (2-3, 5.55 ERA) was called on to go opposite right hander Dylan McDaniel (2-3, 4.35), looking to get some longevity and try to limit the walks.
Things could not have started much better for McCarty. After no Hub City pitcher threw a clean inning Saturday night, McCarty tossed a three up three down frame in the top of the first. Also, after not getting a runner past first base until the 5th inning in game five, the Pastimes managed to push across a run in the bottom half, cashing in a leadoff double from Yeison Morrobel on a one out sacrifice fly to center from Hector Osorio.
McCarty worked quickly in the top of the second, working around a one out walk to Kaleb Freeman with a strikeout and a fly ball to right. In the home half, Maxton Martin led off with a solo shot off the video board in right center. Ben Hartl later walked with two away, but he was left on when Carter Garate whiffed to send the game to the third with the Pastimes leading 2-0.
McCarty did not really have to labor until the top of the fourth when George Wolkow reached on a fielding error charged to Garate at 2nd with one out. Kaleb Freeman followed with a walk, and after Wolkow stole second, Jeral Perez broke the shutout with a single. McCarty bounced back with a pop up to short and a looking strikeout of Ely Brown to hold the Dash to just the one run.
The Pastimes got that run back in the ensuing half inning, cashing in a leadoff walk to Quincy Scott, who later stole second and advanced to third on a grounder from Antonis Macias. Hartl lifted a sac fly to right, scoring Scott. After a single from Garate, Morrobel was rung up to end the inning, but the lead was pushed back to two heading to the fifth.
McCarty ended his day after a two out single from Ryan Burrowes in the top of the fifth, having struck out seven and walked two, allowing one run on two hits. Owen Proksch came on and struck out James Taussig to leave Burrowes on and hold the 3-1 lead.
After squandering a Martin leadoff single with a throwing error charged to the pitcher in the bottom of the frame, J’Briell Easley took over on the bump and threw a clean inning, setting the stage for the bats to produce a run of insurance.
Garate led off the bottom of the seventh with a broken bat single, advancing from first to third on a wild pitch with a throwing error on the catcher. After a walk to Morrobel, Luke Hanson grounded to third, reaching on a throwing error when the first baseman was pulled off the bag, scoring Garate. That would be all despite a sac bunt from Osorio moving both runners into scoring position as Figuereo popped up to first and Martin whiffed, sending the game to the eighth with the Pastimes up 4-1.
After a scoreless frame with a strikeout for Jesús Gamez, Spartanburg threatened. Antonis Macias singled and Hartl followed with a walk. Garate reached for the third time in the game, grounding to second to force Hartl, but just beating the rap at first. But, runners were left on the corners as Morrobel lined to right to retire the side.
Not adding anymore insurance turned out to be a non-issue as for the first time all week, the ninth inning was drama-free. Kai Wynyard picked up a save with the game’s fourth 1-2-3 frame, striking out one to secure the ideal result for what was a hard series — a 4-1 victory and a split.
After the off day tomorrow, the Burgers will hit I-26 to Asheville for a six-game set with the Tourists. That series will open at 6:35 PM.
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