Shake And Bake: Burgers Slingshot Blue Claws

After letting the opener slip away in extra innings last night, the Burgers looked to right the ship Wednesday on NASCAR night with AJ Russell (1-4, 4.80 ERA) going against right hander Giuseppe Velasquez (2-1, 5.36).

After Russell struck out the side in the top of the first — all swinging, the top of the order came through with some productivity they did not Tuesday night. Paxton Kling led off with a single on the fifth pitch he saw, but he was caught stealing shortly thereafter. Maxton Martin later singled followed by a double from Antonis Macias. Quincy Scott II kept the line moving, dealing a big early blow with a three-run, 410 foot shot halfway up the berm before Casey Cook whiffed and Arturo De Freitas flew to left to end the inning.

Both pitchers turned in a three up three down second, and in the top of the third, Jersey Shore mounted their first threat. Scott Mudler broke up the no-hitter with a one out single. Tjayy Walton added another knock with two away, but Russell got Brady Day looking to leave them on and hold the lead at 3-0.

After a scoreless home half, the Blue Claws broke the goose egg in the fourth, starting with a single from Griffin Burkholder. He later stole second, scoring on a one out base hit from Robert Phelps, who took second on the throw to the plate. With two away, first baseman Kodey Shojinaga walked to pave the way for an RBI single from Mudler, but Shojinaga was gunned out at the plate to retire the side to keep Hub City in front by a car length.

Russell departed after four complete, surrendering two earned runs on five hits, a walk, and seven strikeouts. He gave way to Luke Savage, who turned in a clean inning with a strikeout. In the ensuing half, the Spartanburgers blew the game open.

Esteban Mejia started the rally with a one out single. Carter Garate made it back to back knocks and Kling drew a walk to take it three wide. Martin then delivered a two-run single followed by a walk to Macias. Scott II added another run with a base hit and two more scored on a wild pitch coupled with a throwing error on the pitcher after the ball ricocheted from the backstop all the way up the first base line.

With two away, Arturo De Freitas singled to plate two more runs, and after a walk to Morrison, Mejia capped the frame with a base hit for an RBI. In the end, Hub City sent 13 to the plate, hanging a seven spot to make for a 10-2 lead heading to the sixth.

Another clean frame from Savage later, the Spartanburgers put the BlueClaws another lap down by capitalizing on another leadoff single from Kling — this one on the infield and paired with a throwing error on the shortstop to put him in scoring position. Martin grounded out to first to advance Kling to third, setting up a run-scoring sacrifice fly to center from Macias. That stretched the lead to 11-2 going to the seventh.

Savage tossed two shutout, no hit innings, striking out a pair with no walks. That narrowly earned him the win over Cole Fehrman, who also went two scoreless no-hit frames with no walks and a K.

Aidan Brainard was called on to try and finish out the night, but was unable to do so. After ringing up Villavicencio to start the ninth, Phelps singled and center fielder Nate Humphries followed with an RBI triple.  Following a walk to Shojinaga, Mudler whiffed, but later a wild pitch scored Humphries and advanced Shojinaga before Stewart drew a walk, prompting a call to the bullpen.

Jesús Gamez came on and promptly issued a base on balls to Walton to load the bases. But, he was able to get out of the mess by inducing Brady Day to fly out to left fly the checkered flag on the game and send the Burgers to Victory Lane by an 11-4 margin.

With the series even, Hub City will look to jump in front tomorrow night as Jormy Nivar (0-1, 16.88 ERA) faces right hander Ryan Dromboski (2-8, 5.11). First pitch is set for 6:35 PM.