Ronald Hernandez tallies two hits, John Bay drives in two in defeat
SAL Brooklyn Cyclones

Ronald Hernandez tallies two hits, John Bay drives in two in defeat

Published on May 6, 2026 under South Atlantic League (SAL)
Brooklyn Cyclones News Release


BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - 1B Ronald Hernandez picked up two hits and CF John Bay drove in a pair of runs, but the Brooklyn Cyclones fell to the Bowling Green Hot Rods, 8-4, in Wednesday afternoon's series opener at Bowling Green Ballpark.

The Hot Rods (18-10) wasted no time taking an early lead. With runners at second and third and two out, thanks to a pair of walks and a stolen base, 1B Tony Santa Maria put Bowling Green ahead, 2-0, with a single to center.

Brooklyn (7-20) answered back with a run of their own in the second. Bay walked, took second on a 3B Colin Houck single, advanced to third on a fly out, and scored on a wild pitch to pull the Cyclones within one.

In the bottom of the frame, the Hot Rods regained a two-run advantage. RF Connor Hujsak started the frame with a double to center and scored on LF Tom Poole's one-out single to left-center.

The Cyclones drew even in the third. Brooklyn filled the bases with two out on a pair of hit-by-pitches and Hernandez base-hit to right. On the second pitch he saw, Bay slapped a grounder under the shortstop's glove and into left-center field for a two-run single to knot the score at three.

However, the contest would not stay tied for long. C Nathan Flewelling ignited a rally with a single to center before 2B Émilien Pitre doubled him to third. A two-RBI double down the left-field line by Santa Maria and a run-scoring infield knock from Hujsak put Bowling Green ahead by three, 6-3.

The Cyclones played long ball to snare a run back in the fourth. On the second pitch of the inning, LF Vincent Perozo pummeled a ball beyond the Brooklyn right-field bullpen for a solo home run. The 22-year-old's first career High-A round tripper pulled the 'Clones within two, 6-4.

That was as close as Brooklyn would get, though. In the home eighth, the Hot Rods garnered a pair of insurance runs. Santa Maria hammered the first pitch of the frame over the wall in right-center field for a solo shot to cap a five-RBI day. 3B Narciso Polanco made it back-to-back blasts when he sent a towering drive off the videoboard in right-center field. Santa Maria's second and Polanco's third homers of the season stretched Bowling Green's up to 8-4.

The Cyclones put a man at third in the ninth on a Jimenez walk and a pair of defensive indifferences, but 2B Yonatan Henríquez's deep drive to right-center died on the warning track for the final out.

RHP Jack Kartsonas (1-0) punched out a career-high seven over 5.0 innings to earn the win in his High-A debut. The 25-year-old permitted four runs on six hits and one walk.

Despite retiring the final seven hitters he faced in order, RHP Joel Díaz (0-5) was saddled with his fifth defeat for Brooklyn. The 22-year-old was charged with six runs on seven hits in a season-long 5.0 innings. Díaz issued a season-low two walks and whiffed a season-high-tying five.

The Cyclones will try and even the six-game series at a win apiece on Thursday evening. RHP Irving Cota (1-1, 0.96) is expected to make the start for Brooklyn. The Hot Rods are slated to counter with the Tampa Bay Rays' No. 16 prospect per MLB Pipeline, RHP José Urbina (0-3, 4.12). The first pitch from Bowing Green, Ky. is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. ET.

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 6, 2026


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