MWL1 Bowling Green Hot Rods

Lansing Hammers Bowling Green in Series Opener, 13-3

Published on June 16, 2015 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Bowling Green Hot Rods News Release


Lansing, Mich. - Bowling Green found themselves down after the first inning and could never combat Lansing's powerful offensive attack, falling 13-3 in the series opener in front of 4,142 fans at Cooley Law School Stadium on Tuesday night.

Bowling Green (37-28) now trails Lansing (38-27) by one game for first place in the Eastern Division, and falls into a tie with Great Lakes for the Eastern Division's Wild Card spot with five games left to play in the first half.

The Hot Rods allowed season-highs in runs (13), extra-base hits (9) and home runs (4) - including two from third baseman Jason Leblebijian - while outfielders Chris Carlson and Anthony Alford each went 4-for-5 to pace the Lugnuts 17-hit attack despite committing four errors.

Lansing put up three runs over the first two innings off Bowling Green All-Star starter Chris Pike (6-2), taking 1-0 in the opening frame, when Alford doubled into centerfield to lead off the inning and came home on the lone Bowling Green error of the evening, when Richard Urena lined out to Riley Unroe, but an errant throw back to second base allowed Alford to score from second.

Carlson made it 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning, tripling home Josh Almonte, who knocked a one-out single to centerfield in the previous at bat, then Alford delivered Carlson with a two-out single, making it 3-0 in favor of Lansing.

Over the next three innings, Pike was able to keep the Lugnuts at bay, working around six baserunners, three of which entered scoring position, while also retiring Lansing down in order in the fifth inning.

Pike's day, though, came to an end in the bottom of the sixth after surrendering four consecutive two-out extra base hits - Carlson's first professional home run, a double to Tim Locastro, a RBI triple to Alford and a two-run clout to Urena - culminating in a 7-0 score before being pulled for Ryan Pennell to finish the inning.

The former Oklahoma City University standout lasted 5.2 innings, giving up a career-high 12 hits and seven runs while striking out three and walking one in his first loss since April 19.

Starlyn Suriel (5-3) blanked Bowling Green over 6.0 solid innings of work, stranding all seven batters who reached - six by a hit and one walk - and struck out only one while holding the Hot Rods to 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

Once Suriel was lifted for reliever Dusty Isaacs, Bowling Green scratched out a run in the seventh, when Thomas Milone set the table with a two-out infield single while moving to second on the throwing error by Urena and scoring on Unroe's RBI double, cutting the Lansing lead to 7-1.

Following Leblebijian's first home run in the bottom half for an 8-1 lead, Bowling Green inched within 8-3 in the eighth inning, when Nick Ciuffo singled home Justin Williams, who reached on a force-out as the second batter of the inning, and Mac James brought home Bralin Jackson on a sacrifice fly, after Jackson singled into right field.

Lansing ratcheted up five more runs in the home half aided by a two-run single from Rowdy Tellez and Leblebijian's second homer - a two-run shot - forcing Bowling Green infielder Alec Sole to take the mound to get the final out, a flyout on the first pitch he threw to Carlson.

Williams led the way going 3-for-4 with a double, while Jackson and Unroe each notched a pair of hits, with Unroe increasing hit career-best hitting streak to 10 straight. Still, the Hot Rods left 10 men on base and fashioned a 2-for-10 clip with runners in scoring position.

Bowling Green looks to even the set and re-tie for first in the Eastern Division in game two, when Enderson Franco (5-4, 3.21) opposes Sean Reid-Foley (2-2, 3.57) in a 6:05 p.m. CDT start Wednesday from Cooley Law School Stadium.

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Midwest League Stories from June 16, 2015


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