Deja Vu! Hub City Walk Off Winners for Second Straight Night
SPARTANBURG, S.C — On Thursday night, Jhocsuanth Vargas was thrust into his High-A debut after two long evenings behind the plate for Julian Brock. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Vargas stepped to the dish and clinched a second straight win for the Spartanburgers. His dribbler
SPARTANBURG, S.C — On Thursday night, Jhocsuanth Vargas was thrust into his High-A debut after two long evenings behind the plate for Julian Brock. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Vargas stepped to the dish and clinched a second straight win for the Spartanburgers. His dribbler down the third-base line scored Casey Cook and secured a 2-1 victory for Hub City (22-20) over Rome (22-20).
Gleider Figuereo blasted his sixth home run of the season to grab the team lead. Figuereo has hit leadoff solo homers in the bottom of the fifth in back-to-back games.
Kolton Curtis (W, 1-1) pitched four innings of one-run relief after Josh Trentadue set new season-highs with five innings and seven strikeouts.
Both starters got off to easy beginnings tonight at Fifth Third Park. Riley Frey struck out four and allowed just two hits through his first four innings of work. Trentadue held Rome out of the hit column through the first three frames. With two outs in the fourth, Will Verdung knocked his second triple in as many nights. Trentadue kept the game scoreless with his seventh strikeout of the evening to strand Verdung.
Figuereo set Fifth Third Park ablaze in the bottom of the fifth. Hub City’s third baseman attacked a two-strike, off-speed pitch and clocked it over the right field fence.
Rome tied the game in the eighth in quick succession. After leadoff man Leandro Espinoza was hit by a pitch, Patrick Clohisy looped a deep double off the right-center field wall. Espinoza watched it drop, then raced home. Clohisy’s ninth double of the season tied the game at one apiece.
Curtis used a pair of strikeouts to escape the inning without allowing any more damage. Clohisy was left stranded at third base. The Spartanburgers went down in order against Rome reliver Cory Wall in the eighth, and Curtis bounced back for an easy top of the ninth.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Yeison Morrobel ambushed a double off the bottom of the right-center field wall, and he advanced to third on a throwing error back into the infield. Casey Cook proceeded to hit a sharp grounder to first with the infield in. Bryson Horne knocked down the ball with a dive and threw out Morrobel at the plate. A pair of walks from Wall and new reliever Rob Griswold loaded the bases with two outs for Vargas. The 18-year-old attacked the first pitch he saw.
Hub City and Rome square off for game four on Friday night. The Spartanburgers send RHP David Davalillo (2-0, 1.08 ERA) back to the mound after a sensational start a week ago. RHP Logan Samuels (0-0, 6.75 ERA) matches up for the Emperors. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET with Fifth Third Fireworks to follow the final out.
About the Hub City Spartanburgers
The Hub City Spartanburgers are in their inaugural season as the High-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. For more information on the Spartanburgers, visit milb.com/hub-city. For information about tickets to any of Hub City’s 66 home games, call 864-658-4206 or email: tickets@hcspartanburgers.com For media inquiries, email: iunsworth@hcspartanburgers.com. Follow along with the Spartanburgers on social media.
Pitching Proves the Difference in Second Straight Spartanburgers Win
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‘Burgers Win One-Run Showdown
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Emperors Slow Down Red-Hot Spartanburgers
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Spartanburgers Head Home with Series Lead
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Series Opener at Winston-Salem Postponed
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Scott and Taylor Spearhead Spartanburgers’ Sunday Walk-Off
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‘Burgers Drop Saturday’s Low-Scoring Affair
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Figuereo’s Walk-Off Blast Splits Thursday Twin Bill
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Rain Forces Wednesday Night Postponement
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The Motor of the Hub City: Why Professional Baseball Returned to Spartanburg
This article was originally published in the June 2025 edition of the Texas Rangers magazine.
Bats Wake up for ‘Burgers to Finish Week in Bowling Green
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Late Offense Carries Bowling Green to Comfortable Win
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Offensive Battle Goes Bowling Green’s Way
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — After conceding five runs in the first inning, Hub City battled back to tie Friday night’s game in the seventh. The Hot Rods (1-0, 35-30) powered their way to seven late runs to take down the Spartanburgers (0-1, 31-35) in game three of the series, 12-5.
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Game Two Between ‘Burgers and Hot Rods Washed Out
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Wilmington Wins Another One-Run Contest Saturday
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