The Burgers dominated their way to an 11-4 win on Wednesday night to even the series and came into Thursday looking to take the lead and pull to within one of their 60th win of the season. Playing as the Gusanos de Mezcal del Burg for the final time in 2026, Jormy Nivar (0-1, 11.68 ERA) made his home debut opposite right hander Ryan Dromboski (2-8, 5.11).
The Blue Claws picked up a base runner right away with a throwing error on third baseman Esteban Mejia. But, after Brady Day flew to left, Griffin Burkholder grounded into a double play to retire the side.
In the bottom half, Paxton Kling drew a leadoff walk and later stole 2nd, scoring on a one out single from Antonis Macias. Quincy Scott later whiffed and Casey Cook grounded to first to end the inning with the Gusanos up 1-0.
Jersey Shore mounted a scoring threat in the top of the second after Nate Humphreys was hit by a pitch to start the frame. With one away, Wilfredo Antunez singled, putting runners on the corners for Kodey Shojinaga. However, Nivar was once again able to worm his way out of the jam with a 6-4-3 twin killing.
The Gusanos de Mezcal were turned away from a scoring chance in the ensuing half when Mejia doubled with one out, later taking third on a grounder to short from Carter Garate. Cal Stark ended the inning with a comebacker to keep it at 1-0 going to the third.
In the top of the fourth, the Claws once again had a runner on third after Burkholder reached on an error charged to Morrison followed by a single from Humphreys. Devin Saltiban later flew to right and left fielder Carter Mathison drew a walk to load the bases. But once again, a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Shojinaga got Nivar out of the woods unscathed.
Jormy was given another run of support in the home half of the frame, which started with a base hit from Morrison. After Mejia popped up to second, Morrison was caught stealing for the second out. But, the inning was extended when Garate reached on a two base fielding error on first baseman Scott Mudler. Stark capitalized on the chance with an RBI knock, but was left on via a liner to right from Kling, making for a 2-0 lead heading to the fifth.
Nivar departed after six shutout innings with five hits, one walk, and no strikeouts. He was relieved by Cole Roland, who recorded the first strikeout of the night by the Gusanos’ pitching in a three up three down frame.
Luimy Muñoz had to wiggle his way off the hook in the top of the eighth after Brady Day reached on a strikeout-wild pitch with one out. Burkholder was then beaned, and a wild pitch advanced both into scoring position. Fortunately, Humphreys popped up to first and Saltiban flew to right to leave them on, holding the Gusanos’ lead at 2-0.
After a 1-2-3 bottom half, Case Matter was called on to try for the save. He ran into trouble after getting a first pitch comebacker for a quick out. Matter then proceeded to issue back to back walks to Shojinaga and Mudler, which came back to bite as Daunte Stuart broke up the shutout with a single. After Phelps went down swinging for the second out, the game came down to an interesting play at first base.
Day grounded deep in the three hole, but Macias was able to come up with a diving stop. He popped up and tossed the ball to Matter covering the bag as Day dove head first. It was a bang-bang play, but the infield umpire called Day out to end the game, giving the Gusanos de Mezcal Del Burg a 2-0 win and the 2-1 series lead.
The final week of the season continues tomorrow at 7:05 as Ben DeTaye (2-0, 7.77 ERA) faces lefty Cade Obermueller (0-2, 8.71).
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