Spartanburgers Trounce Grasshoppers Wednesday

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Hub City bounced back from an 11-inning loss Tuesday with a strong Wednesday showing. The ‘Burgers (56-66, 22-34) soundly beat the Grasshoppers (74-48, 33-23) 10-3 thanks to two long balls and solid showings from three arms.

Maxton Martin launched his 20th home run of the season — his third of the week — to give the Spartanburgers a lead which would last the rest of the game. Arturo De Freitas also crushed a big fly and set a new career high with four RBIs.

Top 30 prospects AJ Russell and Levi Sterling matched up on the mound, and both worked around first-inning baserunners, then tossed one-two-three second frames. Sterling faced the minimum and Russell struck out the side in the third,

The Spartanburgers took advantage of Grasshopper mistakes in the fourth. Sterling hit Casey Cook and walked Gleider Figuereo. With runners on first and second, Paxton Kling hit a chopper to third, which Jhonny Severino fielded and threw high over first. Cook hustled home from second. The next batter, Martin, lifted an opposite field shot over the left field wall. Sterling retired the side without further damage; he would exit after two outs in the fifth for Braydon Risley.

Meanwhile, Russell handled the fourth inning without an issue, then pitched into the fifth for the first time this year. The leadoff man in the fifth, Shalin Polanco, smoked a solo home run, but Russell struck out Josh Tate before he was lifted from the game. Wily Villar entered and finished the fifth.

Risley scuffled into the sixth, walking the first two batters he faced. Carter Garate moved both Martin and Quincy Scott over with a groundout, then De Freitas walloped his third homer of the year. Hub City led 7-1 after the sixth.

Pitching with plenty of run support, Vilar (W, 1-0) mowed through the Greensboro lineup, striking out five through 2 2/3 scoreless innings. Another trio of runs came in the eighth, as Garate doubled to begin the frame, then De Freitas drove him in. Chandler Pollard walked, and both runners advanced on a passed ball. Figuereo singled both De Freitas and Pollard home and the ‘Burgers reached double digit runs for the first time in over three weeks.

Luimy Muñoz handled the final two innings out of the bullpen. Greensboro plated two inconsequential runs in the ninth.

Thursday, the Spartanburgers and Grasshoppers match up for game three of the series. Hub City has yet to name a starter, and Greensboro hands the baseball to LHP Reinold Navarro (1-0, 1.80 ERA).

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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