Hot Rods Breakdown in Eighth, Lose 6-5 on Tuesday
May 25, 2021 - South Atlantic League (SAL)
Bowling Green Hot Rods News Release
Asheville, North Carolina - The Bowling Green Hot Rods (12-7) dropped the series opener against the Asheville Tourists (9-9) by a score of 6-5 Tuesday night at McCormick Field in Asheville, South Carolina. The two teams will play game two of the six game series Wednesday night with a 5:35 PM CT first pitch.
The Hot Rods offense struck first, plating two runs against Tourists starting pitcher Jimmy Endersby. With two outs, Jonathan Aranda and Ruben Cardenas both singled, and Evan Edwards drove them in with a double to left-center field, giving the Hot Rods an early 2-0 lead.
Bowling Green extended their lead in the top of the third off Endersby, starting with a leadoff double by Pedro Martinez. Martinez stole third and when Aranda struck out swinging later in the at-bat, the ball rolled away from Tourists catcher Tyler Krabbe, allowing Martinez to score and push the Hot Rods lead to 3-0.
Asheville finally got to Hot Rods starter Jayden Murray in the third inning when Alex McKenna hit a solo home run. In the fourth inning, Colin Barber added another solo shot, cutting the Bowling Green lead to 3-2.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Hot Rods faced Tourists reliever Matt Rupenthal, who walked Jordan Qsar with one out. Qsar stole second base and scored on a Martinez RBI single, expanding Bowling Green's lead to 4-2.
With one out in the top of the eighth, Edwards walked and moved to third on Grant Witherspoon's single. Rupenthal balked and brought Edwards home to give Bowling Green a 5-2 lead.
Asheville used two homers to score four runs off Bowling Green reliever Cristofer Ogando in the bottom of the eighth. Alex McKenna singled with two outs and was brought home with an Enmanual Valdez two-run homer. Scott Schreiber singled to center in the next at-bat before Matthew Barefoot homered and gave the Tourists a 6-5 lead. The Hot Rods went down in order in the top of the ninth, losing by a final score of 6-5.
Jayden Murray made his fourth start, pitching 5.0 innings, while giving up two hits and two runs, walking two and striking out four. Mikey York pitched a perfect 2.0 innings and struck out two. Ogando (0-1) picked up his first loss of the season after pitching 1.0 inning, surrendering four hits, four runs, and two home runs while striking out one with a blown save.
Notes: Murray's two earned runs are the first he has given up this season... Martinez collected his third multi-hit game... The three hits ties his season-high... Edwards had his first multi-RBI game of the season with two RBIs... Cardenas has now reached base in 16 consecutive games... The Hot Rods are now 3-4 overall in the navy blue uniforms... They are 2-3 while wearing them on the road... Bowling Green is 2-2 in series opening games... The loss snaps a three-game win streak against Asheville... BG is now 7-2 while outhitting opponents... The Hot Rods are 3-4 in one-run games... Bowling Green relievers are 10-4 when they are the pitcher of record... This is the second blown save of the season for the Hot Rods bullpen... They are 5-7 in save opportunities... The Hot Rods and Tourists play the second of a six-game series Wednesday... First pitch will be at 5:35 PM CT... Bowling Green will send LH Joe LaSorsa (1-0, 0.00) against Asheville's RH R.J. Freure (1-0, 4.50).
South Atlantic League Stories from May 25, 2021
- Walk-Off Winner at State Mutual Stadium - Rome Emperors
- Hot Rods Breakdown in Eighth, Lose 6-5 on Tuesday - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Walk-Off Single Gives Rome 6-5 Win Over Greenville - Greenville Drive
- 'Birds Batter Brooklyn,Ãâà'Clones Fall 8-1 - Brooklyn Cyclones
- More Eighth Inning Magic Gives the Tourists a 6-5 Win - Asheville Tourists
- Gades Power Past BlueClaws - Hudson Valley Renegades
- Hot Rods Game Notes - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes (May 24) - Winston-Salem Dash
- Upcoming Promotional Schedule, May 25-30 - Rome Emperors
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
