Bowling Green Drop Series Finale in 13-10 Hitfest

May 12, 2024 – South Atlantic League (SAL)
Bowling Green Hot Rods News Release

Bowling Green, Kentucky – Brock Jones and Colton Ledbetter each corralled three hits and drove in two runs, but it wasn’t enough as the Bowling Green Hot Rods (17-16) dropped the series finale, 13-10 against the Greensboro Grasshoppers (18-14) on Sunday at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Greensboro would get the scoring going against Bowling Green Starter Yoniel Curet in the top of the first. Jack Brannigan hit a leadoff single, while Termarr Johnson and Lonnie White Jr. were both hit by pitch to load the bases. Mitch Jebb singled to center, scoring Brannigan and Johnson, advancing White Jr. to third. Maikal Escotto barreled up a three-run homer to left, clearing the bases, and giving the Grasshoppers a 5-0 lead.

The Grasshoppers loaded the bases again in the top of the second with Curet still on the mound. P.J. Hilson walked and Brannigan was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and Termarr Johnson reached on an infield single to load the bases. Charles McAdoo singled to right, scoring Hilson to increase the Grasshoppers lead, 6-0.

Bowling Green answered in the bottom of the third against Greensboro starter Patrick Reilly. Ryan Spikes reached on a single and Xavier Issac launched a two-run blast to right center, his sixth home run of the season, making the score to 6-2.

The runs kept coming for the Grasshoppers, scoring three in the top of the fourth and one in the top of the fifth to take a 10-2 lead. The Hot Rods fought back with two runs in the bottom of the fifth against Grasshoppers reliever Elijah Birdsong. Isaac collected a two-out single and Brayden Taylor cleared the bases with a two-run long ball, cutting into the Greensboro lead, 10-4.

Relentless offense continued for the Grasshoppers in the top of the sixth, plating an additional three runs, pushing their lead to 13-4. Bowling Green showed late life, driving in four runs in the bottom of the eighth, headlined by a Chandler Simpson RBI base hit. The Hot Rods tried again in the bottom of the ninth, scoring two runs on a Kamren James home run, but their efforts fell short, losing 13-10.

Birdsong (1-0) picked up his first win of the season, tossing 2.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out one. Curet (1-4) pitched 3.1 innings, surrendering nine runs on six hits, walking three and striking out three in his fourth loss of the year. Luis Peralta (1) logged the final out of the game,…