After a rough series last week in Asheville, Hub City (5-10 on the 2nd half, 39-42 overall) faced another tough challenge with the South Atlantic League South Division first half champion Bowling Green Hot Rods (8-7, 55-25) coming to Fifth Third Park for a six-game set to close out the pre-MLB All Star Break portion of the schedule.
Enrique Segura (1-3, 8.02 ERA) went opposite right hander Jacob Kisting (4-0, 1.97). Segura’s first time through the lineup went well, accumulating four strikeouts with a hit and a walk while also escaping a first inning two on, one out jam. On the other end, Hub City picked up their first base runner in the bottom of the second on a double to the right field corner from Maxton Martin, but he was left on when Antonis Macias lined out to left and Quincy Scott II grounded out to short.
Segura’s second time did not start well, issuing a one out single to center fielder Aidan Smith. After a swipe of second, catcher Nathan Flewelling delivered a base hit to get the Hot Rods on the board. Segura rebounded following a wild pitch to leave Flewelling aboard with a strikeout and a grounder to short, limiting the damage to just one.
Luke Hanson provided another scoring chance in the ensuing half inning with a leadoff knock. He later stole second and advanced on a fly ball to center from Figuereo with one out. But, Martin struck out to leave him there, keeping it a 1-0 lead for the Rods. From there, Segura would get one more inning, retiring the side in order before another passing rain shower would put a halt to the game. Enrique would end up with a final line one earned on three hits, a walk, and seven strikeouts in five innings of work.
After an hour delay and a three up three down frame for Bowling Green reliever Cade Citelli, J’Briell Easley took over to start the sixth. He ran into some trouble with one out when he walked shortstop Narciso Polanco. Third baseman Tony Santa Maria followed with a base hit and they both moved into scoring position on a double steal. But, Easley was able to wiggle off the hook with consecutive strikeouts.
The Burgers finally broke the goose egg in the ensuing half inning with one out when Yeison Morrobel took the payoff pitch on a line into the home bullpen in the right field corner. Hector Osorio later singled with two out, but was left on when Figuereo struck out, sending the game to the seventh tied at one apiece.
Cole Roland was then called on and immediately found himself in a bind after a leadoff two-bagger from second baseman Carlos Colmenarez and a single from right fielder Jhon Diaz. A passed ball later advanced both runners, setting up an RBI sacrifice fly from Smith. Flewelling followed with an RBI knock, and after a steal, Polanco reached on a throwing error charged to Roland, scoring Flewelling. Polanco was later caught stealing to retire the side, and at the stretch, Hub City trailed 4-1.
After squandering a two out single from Quincy Scott II in the bottom of the seventh, Cole Roland wiggled out of a jam after a one out triple from designated hitter Ryan McCoy. A strikeout and a fly ball to center held the Rods at bay, allowing Hub City to chip away in the home eighth.
Yeison Morrobel reached with one out on a two base throwing error charged to Flewelling on a bunt. Hanson followed with a single to put runners on the corners, setting up an RBI sac fly from Osorio. Figuereo later struck out swinging to send the game to the ninth with Hub City trailing 4-2.
Matter struck out the side in the ninth to give the Burgers a shot at a comeback, which got off to a promising start with a Martin single. But, instead the game ended anticlimactically as Antonis Macias flew to left and Scott II grounded into a 4-3 double play.
Hub City will take another crack at it Wednesday at 6:35 as Izack Tiger (0-2, 11.12) faces an arm yet to be named.
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