Cedar Rapids, IA- Osmy Gregorio homered in the first game of Wednesday's double header as the Bowling Green Hot Rods split the twin-bill with the Cedar Rapids Kernels, winning 3-2 in game one and dropping the second game 6-4 at Veteran Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Hot Rods
Cedar Rapids, IA- Osmy Gregorio homered in the first game of Wednesday's double header as the Bowling Green Hot Rods split the twin-bill with the Cedar Rapids Kernels, winning 3-2 in game one and dropping the second game 6-4 at Veteran Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Hot Rods are 15-11 and will play the series finale on Thursday with a 6:35 PM first pitch.
Bowling Green took an early lead in the third on Kernels starter Luis Rijos. With two outs Ford Proctor reached and went to second on a throwing error by Kernels shortstop Estamy Urena. Wander Franco singled to right, scoring Proctor to make it a 1-0 game. Franco attempted to move to second on the throw home but was put out at second for the final out of the inning.
Cedar Rapids was held without a runner until the third inning when Hot Rods starter Joe Ryan allowed a two-out walk to Hunter Lee. Gabriel Maciel and DaShawn Keirsey Jr. followed with the same to load the bases and a dropped third strike allowed Lee to score to tie the game at 1-1.
Osmy Gregorio put the Hot Rods ahead for good in the fifth with a long-ball off Rijo. Connor Hollis led off the frame by reaching on a throwing error by the Kernels' shortstop. Gregorio launched the first pitch he saw over the left-field wall to give Bowling Green a 3-2 edge. Trey Cumbie retired the final six batters of the game in order to secure the win.
Ryan (2-2) tossed five innings in a win while allowing two runs (one earned) on a hit with four walks and eight strikeouts. Cumber locked down his third save of the year, tossing a spotless two innings with five strikeouts.
The Hot Rods jumped out to a 1-0 lead in game two against Austin Schulfer and the Kernels. Proctor led off the game with a walk and went to second when Franco singled. Hollis doubled to right, plating Proctor and giving Bowling Green a one-run edge.
In game two, the Hot Rods utilized an opener to kick off the game instead of a traditional starter. Miguel Lara took the ball and worked the first two innings without allowing a run. In the third, Nick Padilla entered out of the bullpen and let up two runs to Cedar Rapids to tie the game, 2-2.
The Hot Rods added a pair of runs in the fifth when Grant Witherspoon doubled take a 4-2 lead, but the Kernels added three in the fifth and another run in the sixth to take a 6-4 lead, which they went on to win by.
Lara started the game for the Hot Rods, throwing two scoreless innings while allowing a hit with three walks and two strikeouts. Padilla (3-1) took the loss, throwing 2.2 innings while allowing five runs on nine hits with four walks and a strikeout. Cristofer Ogando tossed the final 1.1 innings while allowing a run on a hit with a walk and two strikeouts.
Notes: In game one… The Hot Rods are 8-0 in series opening contests… Bowling Green won their third straight… Hollis had his third multi-RBI game of the season… Gregorio's homer snapped an eight-game hitless skid… Michael Smith has a three-game hit streak… He made his first appearance in a game since being activated from the IL on April 28… Cumbie has earned a save in back-to-back appearances… The 1:47 minute time of game is the shortest contest of the 2019 season… The team left two runners on base, the lowest total of 2019… It's one less than the previous low of three, set on April 14 against Fort Wayne… In game two… Smith made his first start in right field of the season… Franco had his sixth multi-hit game of the year and fourth two-hit game… Witherspoon had his third multi-RBI game of 2019… The team's four hits tie a season low… It's the third time this season they've had four hits in a game… The nine hits allowed by Padilla are the most by a reliever this season… The two doubles he allowed tie a season high for a pitcher… Fans can catch all the action with Shawn Murnin on Willie 107.9 FM, as well as, with their smart phones via the MiLB First Pitch app and TuneIn Radio app.
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