Spartanburgers Take Game Three Behind Strong Pitching

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — After splitting a twin-bill Wednesday, the Spartanburgers started strong against the Drive Thursday, jumping out to a 6-0 lead. Hub City (51-59, 17-27) took down Greenville (48-60, 22-23) by a 6-3 final at Fifth Third Park.

Luimy Munoz was tapped as the Spartanburgers’ opener; the right-hander excelled in his first start since 2024. Munoz struck out the first batter he faced. He did not allow a baserunner over the first two innings and lowered his ERA to 1.23.

On the other side, Greenville’s Jacob Mayers (L, 0-1) threw seven pitches in a three-batter first. He worked in and out of a tricky second inning. Gleider Figuereo doubled to start the frame, then Mayers walked a pair. The right-hander battled back for three straight outs.

Kamdyn Perry (W, 1-4) entered in the third for Munoz and started his night with two scoreless innings and two strikeouts. Perry hit the first batter of the fifth, and Yophery Rodriguez followed with a single, the Drive’s first hit of the game. Perry worked out of it and set down the side in order in the sixth.

The ‘Burger offense came alive in the bottom of the fourth and forced Mayers out of the game. After two outs, Carter Garate walked, then Arturo De Freitas ripped a double off Chaser’s Corner. Garate wheeled home from first and scored as the relay throw sailed wide of the plate, allowing De Freitas to take third. The next batter, Chandler Pollard, beat out a ground ball to deep shortstop, which scored De Freitas. Hub City led 2-0 when Brady Tygart entered for Mayers to retire the side.

The ‘Burgers rattled Tygart for four more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Quincy Scott led off the frame with a double, then Garate singled him in. De Freitas was hit by a pitch, then Paxton Kling walked to load the bases. Luke Hanson stepped up and took four outside the zone to bring Garate home to increase Hub City’s lead to 4-0. The bases remained full until Antonis Macias chopped into a fielder’s choice, plating another run but leading to an out at second. After a pitching change, the Spartanburgers’ final run of the night crossed on a successful double steal by Macias and Kling.

Greenville got on the board in the seventh when Ronny Hernandez homered to leadoff the inning. With two on and two out, J’Briell Easley relieved Perry and got the final out. Easley returned for the eighth and let two of the first three reach. Hernandez singled in a run, and a hit batter loaded the bases. A lineout to first marked the second out, but Macias threw the ball into left field searching for a double play, allowing a third Drive run on the night to score.

Hub City went down quietly in the seventh and eighth against Griffin Kilander. Luke Savage (S, 2) entered to pitch the ninth with a three-run lead. With one on and two out, Savage walked back-to-back batters. He induced a flyout from Hernandez to end the game.

The Spartanburgers can clinch a split of the series on Friday night in game four at 7:05 p.m. ET. Hub City trots out right-handed Caden Scarborough (1-4, 3.18 ERA) to face off against southpaw Jacob Gilman (0-1, 5.40 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.