Burgers End Asheville Winning Streak

After missed opportunities left Hub City just short of a comeback for the third time this series on Friday night, dropping their fourth straight in a 4-3 decision to the now first-place Asheville Tourists, the Spartanburgers looked to try and break through the proverbial bullet proof wall blocking them from getting back into the win column Saturday evening at HomeTrust Park.

AJ Russell took to the bump and ran into some trouble with one out in the bottom of the first. Command became an issue with one out as Russell walked Caden Powell and Nehomar Ochoa Jr back to back. Asheville took an aggressive approach on the base paths, notching four steals. That manufactured some offense when Chase Call legged out an infield single to score the game’s first run. But, a strikeout and a fly ball to right left two in scoring position and held the damage to just the one run.

At the plate, the first two innings mirrored the way the series has gone for Hub City where runners left in scoring position has been a major storyline. Last night, they stranded four. In the first inning of Saturday’s contest, a leadoff single from Yeison Morrobel was left on third. In the second frame, a two out walk to Chandler Pollard followed by a stolen base and a balk left him on third when Carter Garate struck out.

That allowed the Tourists to extend their lead in the bottom of the second on a two out solo shot from shortstop Marcus Brown. But, after Russell rang up Thomas Jr to end the inning, Cal Stark finally broke through for the Burgers when he deposited the first pitch he saw over the left field fence for a solo shot. Two batters later, Hector Osorio tied the game with a blast over the blue monster in right.

Hub City had a shot to add on after Figuereo and Martin followed the homer with consecutive singles. Gleider went first to third, which allowed Martin to take second on the throw, but it would all be for naught as Antonis Macias struck out looking to retire the side, sending the game to the bottom of the third in a 2-2 deadlock.

After a three up three down inning for Russell with two strikeouts, Hub City had a shot once more to take the lead after Chandler Pollard was hit by a pitch to lead off the ensuing half inning. He advanced on a comebacker from Carter Garate, but was left at second after consecutive ground balls to short from Stark and Morrobel.

Aj Russell recorded one more out before giving up a double off the center field fence to Jake Moss. After a fly ball to center, Russell was taken down for Case Matter, who struck out Garcia to preserve the tie. Russell’s final line would be three and two-thirds, two earned on three hits, two walks, and five strikeouts.

Isamel Agreda was able to hold that lead despite an eventful bottom of the fifth that started with a one out walk to Thomas Jr, who later went first to third on an errant pickoff throw. Caden Powell then grounded into a fielder’s choice, reaching while Thomas was gunned out at the plate 6-2. A wild pitch later advanced Powell, but he was thrown out trying to go to third on the play to retire the side.

The Burgers had their own base running issue in the next half inning when Chandler Pollard was caught stealing after a two out single. After that, trouble finally struck again in the home half for Agreda.

Nehomar Ochoa led off with a base hit and later swiped second. With one away, Kyle Walker came up with a knock, advancing Ochoa to third. After another stolen base, Jake Moss lifted a sacrifice fly to center, plating the go-ahead run and sending Walker to third. Agreda bounced back by striking out Zach Daudet, but heading to the seventh, the Tourists led 3-2.

Hub City got that run back after Garate led off with a single. He advanced to third on a ground rule double that lodged under the fence in the right field corner from Luke Hanson. Hector Osorio kept the inning alive with a walk before a wild pitch scored Garate and advanced everyone else 90 feet. Figuereo would go on to whiff, leaving them in scoring position, but at the stretch, it was a 3-3 lock.

That lock was picked in the top of the eighth when Pollard showed off his wheels. With two out, he launched a fly ball to the deepest part of the yard. Center fielder Justin Thomas Jr leapt for it at the fence, but missed. The ball ricocheted all the way back into shallow left center while Thomas laid on his back on the warning track, allowing Pollard an inside the park homer to give the Burgers the lead 4-3 going to the bottom of the eighth.

Ismael Agreda was taken down after four innings of one run ball with seven strikeouts, two walks, and two hits. Owen Proksch came on to toss the ninth and found himself in a dramatic situation.

After striking out Walker, Jack Moss doubled down the left field line. Proksch bounced back with a K of Daudet before walking Garcia. But, a fielder’s choice off the bat of Marcus Brown forced Garcia at 2nd to end it, snapping both Asheville’s 8-game win streak and Hub City’s 4-game slide.

With the 4-3 victory in hand, Dj McCarty (2-3, 5.05 ERA) and the Burgers will look to start a streak on Tourist right hander Dylan Howard (0-3, 8.61) before they head back home for the next series Tuesday night. First pitch is set for 1:05 PM.