Spartanburgers and Emperors Split Doubleheader

ROME, Ga. — After Rome and Hub City were forced to postpone a game earlier this year at Fifth Third Park, the teams made it up Wednesday as part of a doubleheader. The Spartanburgers (19-31, 53-63) slugged their way to a 5-1 win in game one before the Emperors (22-27, 55-58) pitching dominated in a 2-0 win in game two.

Rome played as the home team in the first game. Hub City turned to newly promoted righty Connor O’Hara on the mound in game one. The Emperors mustered just two baserunners through the first four innings against the 25-year-old.

The Spartanburgers struggled to get things going against Zach Royse (L, 5-5) on the other side. Singular base hits in each of the first three innings did not provide the spark for offense. After a one-two-three fourth, Antonis Macias and Esteban Mejia led off the fifth with singles. An errant pickoff moved both runners into scoring position, and Arturo De Freitas singled back up to middle to bring in Macias. Mejia would come in to score on a disengagement violation.

O’Hara (W, 1-0) finished his day with a clean bottom of the fifth. Royse remained in to blank the ‘Burgers in the sixth. Hub City reliever Luimy Munoz was given the keys to finish out the game. The righty set down the side in order in the sixth.

Hub City provided insurance against Blayne Enlow in the seventh. With one out, Chandler Pollard singled and stole second base. Paxton Kling scored Pollard with a line drive single, and Casey Cook followed up with a base hit of his own. A throwing error scored two more to make it 5-0. Munoz (S, 3) gave up a lone run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh, and Hub City finished off a 5-1 win.

With the Spartanburgers playing as the home team in game two, Rome jumped out to an early lead two batters in against AJ Russell (L, 1-4). Luis Guanipa started the game with a triple to right, and Conor Essenburg immediately drove him in with a sacrifice fly. Russell stranded a pair of runners on to end the first.

Hub City had no success against Rome starter Mathieu Curtis. The righty retired all nine batters he faced. After Russell worked around traffic in each of the next two innings, he passed things over to Cole Roland an out into the fourth. Roland walked each of the first two batters he faced before a pair of strikeouts ended the threat. Roland worked a one-two-three fifth.

David Rodriguez (W, 3-2) took over for the Emperors in the fourth. After he set down the first three he faced, Hub City got its first baserunner of the game when Gleider Figuereo started the fifth with a single. He was stranded at third after three straight groundouts.

J’Briell Easley worked around a leadoff double in the top of the sixth. Hub City’s right could not do the same in the seventh. Guanipa doubled to center field to start the inning. Will Verdung doubled the lead with a base hit. Jarret Whorff (S, 3) struck out the side in the bottom of the sixth. He stayed out for the seventh. With two outs, Figuereo and Maxton Martin rallied with back-to-back singles. Debutant Brandon Crabtree grounded out to first to cap the threat and the game.

With Rome leading the series 2-1, the two teams prepare for game four on Thursday night at 6:45 p.m. ET. The Spartanburgers have not named a starter. The Emperors will send right-hander Ethan Bagwell (2-3, 3.22 ERA) to the bump.

About the Hub City Spartanburgers

The Hub City Spartanburgers are the High-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers and the reigning South Atlantic League South Division Champions. 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 864-594-0701 or email: [email protected]. For media inquiries, email: [email protected]. Follow along with the Spartanburgers on social media.