Hub City’s struggles with walks came back to bite again over the course of the first three games this week against a red-hot Asheville squad that the Burgers entered the week a game behind in third place in the second half standings. The Tourists came into the homestand on a winning streak, having taken four in a row over the Drive to take the series last week in Greenville, and that has extended to a seven game tear with three lopsided wins over the Spartanburgers.
The Hub City pitching walked 22 batters over the first half of the series while giving up double digit hits in each game in that span. To make matters worse, the offense has also been struggling to push runners across until the latter innings. The Burgers made a push in game one, in the end falling short 10-8. In the second game, an inside the park grand slam from Quincy Scott in a 5-run eighth and a three run Maxton Martin ninth inning homer helped them make a game of it, but once again, they fell short of a comeback, once more falling 10-8. They were blown out 17-3 in the third contest. So, it goes without saying that Hub City needed a win in the worst way Friday in order to avoid dropping the series and keep their hopes of salvaging a split alive.
Caden Scarborough (0-2, 3.26 ERA) would be called on to try and keep the Tourists in check early, going opposite right hander Parker Smith (3-3, 6.05).
Hub City was able to get an early run in the top of the first when Yeison Morrobel doubled off the top of the fence in center to lead off. Back to back unassisted ground outs to first from Luke Hanson and Hector Osorio scored him before Gleider Figuereo was rung up on three pitches to retire the side.
Asheville got it right back, taking advantage of a wild start for Scarborough. He walked Justin Thomas Jr and Caden Powell on eight pitches. Jack Moss followed with a single to plate the tying run. Powell was caught between 2nd and third trying to advance two bases on the play, gunned out 8-6 on the relay, and Scarborough settled in from there by inducing consecutive pop ups to third to leave man on and limit the damage to one run.
After Hub City left a pair on in the ensuing half inning, Caden settled in for his second frame, retiring the side in order, which was rewarded with a lead in the top of the third when Hector Osorio launched a two out solo shot over the blue monster in right. The Burgers had a chance to add on after Figuereo followed with a single past the diving right fielder. Maxton Martin kept the line going, splitting the gap with what would end up being a long base hit off the wall in right center. Martin tried to stretch a double, but was thrown out to retire the side with Hub City leading 2-1.
The Tourists once again answered in the bottom half, cashing in a leadoff hit by pitch to nine hole hitter Freuddy Bautista. After a wild pitch, Caden Powell drove him in with a one out base knock. But Scarborough limited the damage to one once more with consecutive fly balls to left, making for a 2-2 deadlock heading to the fourth.
Caden’s day ended after four and a third, having struck out two, walked two, and given up two earned on two hits. He gave way to Joe Adametz, who like Scarborough before him, struggled to find the zone at first, walking Bautista and then plunking Thomas. Powell made it hurt with an RBI two-bagger for the lead and Moss added on via a sacrifice fly. Hernandez grounded to second to end the inning. But, Asheville would carry a 4-2 edge to the sixth.
Adametz settled in from there, throwing three scoreless with five strikeouts, two walks, and three hits. He did not run into trouble again until the bottom of the eighth. That frame started with consecutive singles from Moss and Hernandez. But, a liner to second from Nunez doubled off Moss and a foul pop up to first from Zach Daudet got Adametz out of it with the Burgers still in striking distance.
Hub City finally got back in the run column in the top of the ninth when Theo Hardy drew a one out walk and later swiped 2nd, scoring on a single through the left side from Cal Stark. But Yeison Morrobel flew out to left to end it.
In the end, squandered scoring chances in the second and third, a baserunning blunder and two left on in the fourth, and another runner left in scoring position in the seventh made the difference as Asheville won their eighth straight and took the series with a 4-3 decision.
The Burgers will take another crack at it tomorrow night at 6:35 as AJ Russell (1-1, 1.80) faces off against right hander Nolan DeVos (1-6, 6.71).
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