MWL1 Bowling Green Hot Rods

Hot Rods Fall at Lansing, 5-3, in Rain-Shortened Affair

Published on June 18, 2015 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Bowling Green Hot Rods News Release


Lansing, Mich. - Lansing clinched the three-game set against Bowling Green topping the Hot Rods 5-3 at Cooley Law School Stadium Wednesday evening, after heavy rainfall in the top of the eighth inning forced the affair to be called final after a 1:38 delay.

Bowling Green's (37-29) second loss in a row to Lansing (39-27) - and third straight loss overall since possessing a one-game lead in the Eastern Division on Sunday - coupled with a Great Lakes victory over Lake Counts drops the Hot Rods a full game behind the Loons for second place and the division's first-half Wild Card with four games remaining in the half.

A 3-1 Hot Rods lead slipped away in the bottom of the sixth inning, when Lansing scored four runs in the frame, its third inning of four or more runs in the series. Rowdy Tellez singled and Ryan McBroom doubled against Bowling Green starter Enderson Franco, while Jason Leblebijian singled in the pair to tie the game at 3-3. After a two-out throwing error by Riley Unroe allowed Mike Reeves to reach, he advanced to third on a hit-and-run single from Chris Carlson. All-Star Hunter Wood was summoned to face Tim Locastro, who worked a full count before lacing a two-run double down the left-field line for the 5-3 advantage.

Franco's (5-5) outing ended after 5.2 innings of work, surrendering nine hits and five runs - three earned - in snapping a two-start win streak.

Bowling Green threatened with the rain falling in the top of the eighth inning against southpaw reliever Jose Fernandez, when Casey Gillaspie led off the inning with a single into centerfield and moved to second base on Justin Williams' single into right field. Gillaspie tried to cut the deficit to just a run on a Bralin Jackson single into centerfield, but Alford threw to cut-off man Tellez who fired to Reeves at home to cut down the All-Star first baseman at home, keeping the game at 5-3.

That out was turned out to be the final play of the game, as the contest was called final after the lengthy delay with Williams stranded at second base and Jackson at first and consequently halting the Hot Rods attempted rally and giving Fernandez his sixth save of the campaign and Lansing its fourth straight win over Bowling Green.

For the second night in a row, Lansing took a 1-0 lead in the first, when Anthony Alford singled and stole second base and Richard Urena singled, setting the table for a double-play groundout by Tellez that delivered Alford.

Bowling Green tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the third inning, when Unroe extended his career-best hitting streak to 11 games by singling home Thomas Milone, who set the table with a one-out triple into the left-field corner, his third three-bagger of the year.

The Hot Rods took their first lead of the series, 2-1, in the top of the fifth, when Alford misplayed Unroe's two-out single to centerfield, scoring Milone all the way from first after he drew a two-out free pass

That lead grew to 3-1 in the top of the sixth inning, as Nick Ciuffo plated Jackson on a two-out RBI single that bounced off the first-base bag into shallow right field.

Chase Mallard (3-1) got the win over 2.0 relief innings for Lansing, after starter Sean Reid-Foley logged 4.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits while walking two and striking out five.

Unroe contributed his 10th stolen base and three more hits for the Hot Rods - his fourth three-hit effort over the last seven in raising his average to a season-high .301 - while Milone tripled and doubled, and Bralin Jackson increased his hitting streak to eight straight going 2-for-4 with his 10th stolen base.

Bowling Green looks to salvage the finale of the three-game set Thursday night, when All-Star right-hander Brent Honeywell (4-3, 2.75) opposes Lansing's Chase De Jong (6-4, 3.38) in a 6:05 p.m. CDT first pitch.

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Midwest League Stories from June 18, 2015


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