One hundred years ago today, a brand new baseball park opened in Spartanburg. That stadium — beloved by generations of Spartanburgers over the last century is still in use today.
Of course, I am referring to historic Duncan Park Stadium, which has hosted thousands of baseball games across the minors, American Legion, high school, and negro league levels. Legends of the sport such as Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, Satchel Paige, Ryne Sandberg, Scott Rolen, Larry Doby, Larry Bowa, Tom Glavine, and Dale Murphy all have dug their spikes into its dirt over the century, and to celebrate all of that history, Hub City would don the cream and maroon colors as the Spartanburg Pastimes for game two of the series with the Bowling Green Hot Rods on Wednesday night.
Izack Tiger (0-2, 11.22 ERA) would take the mound looking to help Hub City try and get back on track after dropping the opener 4-2 Tuesday night. He would go opposite left hander Dominic Niman (5-2, 4.50).
Things could not have gotten off to a better start for the Tiger and the Pastimes. Izack retired the side in order in the top of the first, and the offense produced an early run of support by cashing in a leadoff walk to Yeison Morrobel. With one out, Hector Osorio singled, advancing Morrobel first to third on the play. Osorio tried to take second on the throw, but was gunned out 8-6-4. Gleider Figuereo then delivered an RBI single before Maxton Martin grounded out to first to end the inning with a 1-0 lead.
Unfortunately, the second inning was not as kind to Tiger. He managed to record just one out after each of the first five batters reached on a walk and four straight base hits. The third of those, off the bat of catcher Bryan Broecker, plated two runs. Right fielder Jhon Diaz, after the fourth single, was forced at 2nd on a run-scoring fielder’s choice on which second baseman Juanfel Peguero reached. Center fielder Aidan Smith tacked on the fourth run of the frame with a base knock and DH Nathan Flewelling drew a walk, which forced Carlos Maldonado’s hand.
Owen Proksch came on and stopped the bleeding with a strikeout of left fielder Connor Hujsak and a force play in which Flewelling was erased six unassisted, sending the game to the home half of the frame with the Rods leading 4-1.
Proksch went on a heater over the next two innings, allowing just one base runner on a one out single in the top of the third, striking out six to keep the Hot Rods at bay. But, on the offensive end, Hub City would once again fail to capitalize on a pair of opportunities with runners in scoring position.
In the bottom of the second, Chandler Pollard singled with one out and later advanced on a steal. But, he was left on after Theo Hardy struck out and Cal Stark lined to left. In the fourth, Maxton Martin and Esteban Mejia singled back to back, but Chandler Pollard lined to right and Theo Hardy grounded into a fielder’s choice, forcing Mejia to keep the Pastimes off the scoreboard.
After the Rods added on with a Hujsak leadoff solo shot to the berm off Brock Porter, who came on to start the top of the fifth in place of Proksch, Hanson got it back with a two out berm bomb of his own. Osorio followed with a knock, but was left on when Figuereo struck out, sending the game to the 6th with the Hot Rods leading 5-2.
Brock Porter tossed a three up three down frame, and the Pastimes once again had a chance to chip away after a leadoff single from Martin. After back to back liners to left, Martin stole second and got an additional ninety feet on a throwing error charged to the catcher. But, a third liner right at the left fielder stranded him.
Porter worked out of a jam in the seventh after a one out double from Flewelling and a two out walk to Polanco with a fielder’s choice. But, he was tagged for three more runs over the last two innings — the big blow coming on the second long homer of the night for Hujsak in the top of the ninth that followed a leadoff walk. Luke Savage was able to get the last two outs after Porter bounced back with a whiff of Polanco, but in the end Hub City squandered two more scoring chances.
In the bottom of the eighth, a leadoff walk to Osorio and a two out single from Mejia were left on when Pollard flew to left. Hardy drew a walk to start the ninth and advanced on defensive indifference but was stranded after a liner to center sandwiched between a pair of strikeouts as the Pastimes fell 8-2.
Hub City is now 1-7 over their last eight games and will look to break through Thursday at 6:35. Pitching matchups are still to be determined.
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