Burgers Defeat Drive On House Divided Night

After splitting the twin bill on Wednesday, Hub City sent Luimy Munoz to the bump to face off against right hander Jacob Mayers (0-0, 5.79).

After both arms turned in a three up three down first and Munoz added a clean second, the Burgers mounted a threat in the home half, loading the bases with no out on a Gleider Figuereo double and consecutive walks to Maxton Martin and Quincy Scott II. But, nothing came of it as Carter Garate popped up to second, Arturo De Freitas struck out swinging, and Chandler Pollard grounded to third unassisted.

Munoz was taken down after two innings, replaced by Kamdyn Perry. Greenville picked up their first base runner off him thanks to a two out walk to third baseman Stanley Tucker. He later stole second, but was left on as shortstop Jake Schaffner lined to right.

The Spartanburgers finally broke the goose egg in the bottom of the fourth after a two out walk to Garate. De Freitas then doubled to left, narrowly missing a homer by about a foot to get Hub City on the board. The relay throw to the plate from the shortstop went to the backstop for an error to advance De Freitas to third, and he later scored when Pollard grounded to short and reached on an errant throw.

Paxton Kling kept the line moving with a walk, prompting a call to the bullpen for righty Brady Tygart. He got out of the jam by getting Hanson to pop up to short, but the Burgers had a 2-0 lead heading to the fifth.

Perry ran into some trouble in the ensuing half when left fielder Maximus Martin was hit by a pitch and right fielder Yophery Rodriguez followed with a single. But, the next three were sat down in order to leave them on and hold the 2-0 lead.

Hub City added on in the home sixth, starting the rally with a leadoff double from Scott II. Garate followed with an RBI knock. De Freitas was beaned and with one out, Kling drew a walk to put Burgers on the grill. Hanson also worked a walk, forcing in Garate. Macias kept the inning alive, beating out a fielders’ choice on which Hanson was forced at second while De Freitas scored.

Hub City manufactured another run when Macias swiped second. The throw down was high, and making a good read on that, Kling took off from third to cap the four spot to put the Burgers up 6-0 going to the seventh.

The Drive finally broke through in the top of the seventh with a leadoff solo shot from designated hitter Ronny Hernandez. Maximus Martin then walked followed by a base hit from Yophery Rodriguez. Antonio Anderson grounded into a fielders’ choice, forcing Rodriguez unassisted at second. Anderson was later caught stealing ahead of a two out walk to Nazzan Zanetello, ending the night for Kamdyn Perry.

J’Briell Easley had to come on to clean up the mess, getting Tucker to ground unassisted to first, making it 6-1 heading to the stretch.

After Hub City went quietly, the Drive struck for two more in the top of the eighth. The rally started with a one out base on balls to Owen Hull. That was followed by consecutive singles from Gerardo Rodriguez, who came in for Heyman in the 6th, and Hernandez. The latter plated their second run. Maximus Martin was then plunked to load the bases.

Greenville was given another run when Yophery Rodriguez lined to first. Macias threw to second trying to turn a double play but it went into shallow center, scoring Gerardo Rodriguez. Easley later got out of the inning with a strikeout of Anderson, but the Drive had cut the lead to 6-3.

The Burgers once again went in order, turning to Luke Savage to try and lock down the save. He labored, scattering a one out single to Tucker and consecutive two out walks to Hull and Gerardo Rodriguez. Fortunately, the rally was quelled when Hernandez flew out to center to end the game.

With the 6-3 Spartanburgers win in hand, the season series cannot be won by the Drive. The best they can do is split it while the Burgers need just one more to clinch it for the second straight year.

They will go for that win tomorrow night at 7:05 as Caden Scarborough (1-4, 3.18 ERA)  faces left hander Jason Gilman (0-1, 5.40).