Hub City Falls Short in Extra-Inning Series Opener

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Hub City began its final road series of the year with a close call against playoff hopeful Greensboro. The Grasshoppers (74-47, 33-22) won 4-3 over the Spartanburgers (55-66, 21-34) on Edward Florentino’s 11th inning walk-off, two-run home run.

The contest was rather evenly matched from start to finish. The only 'Burgers offense through the first nine innings came on two solo blasts from Maxton Martin. Meanwhile, Ismael Agreda held the most powerful offense in the South Atlantic League in check, tossing six innings and ceding one earned run.

Agreda and Greensboro starter Ronaldo Gallo traded scoreless firsts. Martin pummeled his first homer of the night over the batter’s eye in center field in the second, and the Grasshoppers responded with an unearned run in the bottom of the second. Jared Jones reached on a throwing error, advanced to second on a single and third on a wild pitch, then scored on a groundout.

Greensboro took the lead in the third. Wyatt Sanford walked, stole second, then scored on a Jhonny Severino single. Martin tied the game in the top of the fourth with a rainbow over the right-center field wall against ‘Hoppers piggyback starter Jack Anker.

Agreda retired ninth in a row after allowing Severino’s RBI hit, but with two outs in the sixth, he hit Axiel Plaz. Greensboro’s catcher advanced all the way to third on a wild pitch and passed ball, but Agreda regained focus and struck out Jared Jones to end his night.

As Hub City went to the bullpen, Anker worked into the eighth inning. Cole Roland was first out for the ‘Burgers with a scoreless seventh. After Jesus Gamez loaded the bases, Luke Savage induced a double play to escape the jam then stuck around for a scoreless ninth. The Spartanburgers left runners on first and third in the top of the ninth.

In extras, Antonis Macias was left stranded on third as Adolfo Oviedo posted a 10th inning zero. J’Briell Easley locked down the bottom half of the frame to extend the game further. Evan Morrison's successful sacrifice bunt against Carlson Reed (W, 6-4) moved automatic runner Carter Garate to third in the 11th, and Garate sped home on a wild pitch to break a tie which had held since the fourth. Hub City couldn’t add to its one-run lead, and Florentino’s two-run home run against Easley (L, 0-3) sealed a Greensboro victory.

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.

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