It is an ideal situation for a rivalry series — come into the finale with something on the line. Sunday, Hub City entered with a 3-2 lead, looking to clinch. On the flipside, Greenville was looking to salvage a split. The pitching matchup added another level of intrigue as Enrique Segura challenged Red Sox #30 ranked prospect JoJo Ingrassia.
The Burgers mounted a first inning threat after consecutive one out singles from Luke Hanson and Gleider Figuereo. Hanson would go on to steal third without a throw, but was left there as Maxton Martin was rung up to start a strike ‘em out-throw ‘em out double play, catching Figuereo stealing to retire the side.
The Drive also threatened after Yoeilin Cespedes was hit by a pitch with two out followed by a walk to Gerardo Rodriguez. Luke Heyman popped up into foul ground between the plate and first, and while it dropped for a foul ball, Heyman was called out for batter’s interference to end the inning.
After a quick three up three down frame for Ingrassia, Greenville nabbed the lead on a leadoff homer into the bullpen in right from Isaiah Jackson. Yophery Rodriguez drew a walk to follow it and with two away Enddy Azocar also worked a free pass. But they were left on when Justin Gonzales, back after a couple of days off due to his involvement in the brawl on Wednesday night, popped up to second.
Another quick 1-2-3 frame from Ingrassia later, Segura departed, giving way to Luke Savage to start the bottom of the third. He would turn in the first clean frame on the day for Hub City before Greenville also decided to bring on a new arm in right hander Matt Duffy after three shutout innings where Ingrassia gave up just two hits, no walks, and struck out a pair.
Duffy gave up a leadoff double to Hanson on a chopper that hopped past the third baseman into left field. However, nothing came of the scoring chance as Quincy Scott grounded to short to retire the side, leaving Hanson on third.
After another 1-2-3 inning from Savage, Hub City mounted another threat with consecutive base hits from Antonis Macias and Esteban Mejia. But, it went by the wayside when Duffy got Marcos Torres and Neureilin Montero to chase pitches up in the zone and Chandler Pollard flew out to right.
Savage was taken down after two innings in which all he gave up was a walk, replaced by J’Briell Easley to start the bottom of the fifth. After getting his first batter to ground to short, the next four all reached. Azocar got aboard when Hanson botched a ground ball for an error. Gonzales was then plunked ahead of what at the time seemed like it would be a killer blow when Cespedes launched the first pitch he saw over the corner of the Monster for a three-run shot, stretching the lead to 4-0.
Hanson committed another error when he airmailed a throw to first, allowing Gerardo Rodriguez to get on. But, Easley bounced back, getting Heyman to fly to left and Jackson to ground to first unassisted. In the ensuing half, the Spartanburgers finally cracked the scoreboard when Hanson led off with a single and Figuereo followed with a majestic two-run shot out of right to cut the deficit in half.
Easley struck out the side in his second inning of work, and once again the Burgers had a solid threat that fell idle in the top of the seventh. Marcos Torres doubled to center with one out and later stole third ahead of a walk to Montero. The rally was later killed when Pollard whiffed and Hanson popped up to first.
The Drive added an insurance run off Jesús Gamez in the home half, starting the rally with a leadoff two-bagger to left from Azocar. He would also take third on the play thanks to a throwing error on Scott, later scoring on a two out single from Gerardo Rodriguez. After a wild pitch moved him into scoring position, Heyman struck out swinging to send the game to the eighth with Greenville up 5-2. But, Hub City at last answered the bell and came up with a clutch hit in the top of the frame.
The Burgers loaded the bases on a leadoff double from Figuereo, a walk to Martin, and a Scott hit by pitch. Macias lifted a sac fly to deep center, scoring Figuereo and advancing everyone else 90 feet. Then, Mejia grounded out to second to plate Martin. Marcos Torres drew a walk and later stole 2nd, scoring on a two-run single off the wall in left from Montero. Pollard flew to left to end the push, but heading to the home half, the Spartanburgers held a 6-5 advantage.
Cole Roland held the lead for an inning, but Hub City squandered a shot at a huge insurance run in the top of the ninth that proved to be costly. Hanson led off with a double off the left field wall, but was left on when Figuereo popped up to third in foul ground, Martin struck out swinging, and Scott grounded to short.
Azocar led off the bottom half with a double off the monster, and on the very next pitch, Gonzales continued to add to his villain status in the rivalry and subsequently, his legend on the Drive side as he launched a walkoff two-run shot to the top of the monster for a 7-6 win and a split of the series.
With this round of the rivalry closed out, the season series stands at 10-8 in favor of the Spartanburgers, who will now head back up 85 to rest up on Monday ahead of their penultimate homestand of the 2026 season. The next six-game series begins Tuesday night at 6:35 as the Braves’ high-A affiliate Rome Emperors come to town. Pitching matchups are to be determined.
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