The Bowling Green Hot Rods rallied from two-runs down to send the game to extra innings, but the Lake County Captains emerged with a 7-5 win in 10 innings to take the series opener at Bowling Green Ballpark on Saturday night. The Hot Rods fell to 61-43 ahead of Sunday
The Bowling Green Hot Rods rallied from two-runs down to send the game to extra innings, but the Lake County Captains emerged with a 7-5 win in 10 innings to take the series opener at Bowling Green Ballpark on Saturday night. The Hot Rods fell to 61-43 ahead of Sunday afternoon's game, which will have a 2:05 p.m. first pitch.
After a spotless first inning from Alan Strong, the offense gave him an early run against Lake County starter Zach Draper. With two outs, Jonathan Aranda and Chris Betts lined back-to-back doubles, with Aranda coming home for a 1-0 lead.
The lead didn't last long, though, as the Captains knotted the game with two outs in the second as Cody Farhat launched a solo home run to tie the game.
However, Bowling Green came back in the in the bottom of the second against Draper. Grant Witherspoon, Tony Pena, and Erik Ostberg began the inning with consecutive singles, with Ostberg driving in a run. Izzy Wilson then followed with a fielder's choice that brought home Pena to give the Hot Rods a 3-1 lead.
Undeterred, Lake County struck back in the third. Miguel Jerez jumped on Strong's first pitch of the third inning and lined it into the right field bullpen for a solo homer, cutting the Hot Rods' lead to one run.
In the fifth, the Captains took the lead against Strong. With two outs and a runner at first, an error by Osmy Gregorio extended the inning. The miscue proved to be costly as Quentin Holmes dropped a single into left field that eluded Izzy Wilson, scoring two runs. Jose Fermin followed with an RBI single of his own to give the Captains a 5-3 lead.
After Draper struck out six straight batters over the third and fourth inning, Ford Proctor led off the sixth inning with a double, then moved to third on an errant relay throw. Gregorio then brought him home on a ground ball to second, scoring Proctor to cut the margin to 5-4.
Strong gave way to Chris Muller in the seventh, who threw a scoreless frame. In the bottom of the inning, Bowling Green mounted a rally against Captains reliever Luis Valdez. Proctor singled with one out, then moved to third on a stolen base and wild pitch. After a walk to Gregorio, Aranda chopped a single through a drawn-in infield to score Proctor and tie the game. However, Kyle Marman entered the game for Lake County and stranded Gregorio at third to keep the game deadlocked.
After both teams stranded multiple runners in the seventh and eighth innings, neither team mounted a threat in the ninth, sending the game into extra innings.
In the tenth, the Captains started with a runner on second against Joel Peguero. After a catcher's interference, a sacrifice fly advanced both runners into scoring position. An intentional walk loaded the bases, but Peguero struck out Josh Rolette for the second out. After getting ahead of Cody Farhat 1-2, Farhat rolled a two-run single up the middle, scoring two runs to give the Captains a 7-5 lead. Bowling Green had no answer in the bottom of the frame and Lake County took the series opener.
Strong went 6.0 innings, allowing five runs (two earned) on five hits, while striking out five without in no-decision. Muller went one-plus inning and struck out a batter, while working around three walks to not allow a run. Cristofer Ogando went 2.0 innings and struck out four while walking one and not allowing a hit. Peguero (3-2) pitched one innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on one hits, while walking one and striking out one, taking the loss.
Notes: Aranda has a five-game hitting streak…He also has Proctor notched his 27th multi-hit game...Pena recorded his 14th multi-hit contest…Ostberg picked up his third multi-hit night…Strong worked at least 6.0 innings for the 11th time this season…He also allowed two home runs, giving him 12 for the season, which is second-most in the league...Muller tied a season-high by allowing three walks (also May 29 vs. Great Lakes)…Bowling Green is 5-4 in extra innings…The Hot Rods are 21-12 in series openers this season…Bowling Green won for just the fourth time this season when trailing after six innings…The Hot Rods are 36-18 at home…BG had won six straight games at home…They're 13-13 against left-handed starters…BG lost for just the eighth time when out-hitting their opponent…The Hot Rods will play the middle game of the three-game series against the Lake County Captains on Sunday afternoon, with first pitch at 2:05 p.m.…RHP Easton McGee (7-2, 3.42) will start for Bowling Green against Lake County LHP Matt Turner (0-0, 1.59)…Tomorrow is Signature Sunday, featuring postgame autographs on the field…The first 250 fans through the gates will also receive a Shane Baz jumbo baseball card…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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