Hot Rods handle Lugnuts, 4-1

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Max Pentecost collected three hits and Josh DeGraaf tossed four scoreless innings, but the Bowling Green Hot Rods (19-12, 56-44) bested the Lansing Lugnuts (17-15, 53-49), 4-1, in the opener of a three-game series on Wednesday night at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Kevin Padlo slugged a two-run homer in the first inning against Lansing starter Tayler Saucedo (Loss, 5-8), Brandon Lowe added a solo home run in the third inning and Kewby Meyer tacked on an RBI single four batters later to help the Hot Rods build a quick 4-0 lead.

A Ryan Hissey triple and Ryan Metzler RBI single cut the Bowling Green lead to three runs in the top of the fifth.

And DeGraaf made sure that the Hot Rods would not race away with the game, entering in the fifth inning and striking out a career high seven batters in 12 outs recorded, allowing two hits and facing one batter above the minimum.

In the ninth, the Lugnuts mounted one last charge. Pentecost led off against reliever Bryan Bonnell with his third single and moved to second on a wild pitch. One out later, Justin Atkinson drew a walk to bring the tying run to the plate. Bonnell responded with strikeouts of Hissey and Connor Panas, ending the game.

Bowling Green starter Michael Velasquez (Win, 5-7) struck out nine batters in seven innings of six-hit, one-run ball to record the victory. Bonnell earned his second save.

The Lugnuts have lost ten of their last 13 games.

Lansing sends right-hander Justin Maese (0-0, 4.09) to the mound for the second game of the three-game series, a Thursday affair starting at 6:35 p.m. Central against Bowling Green Hot Rods right-hander Blake Bivens (4-2, 3.06).

The next home game at Cooley Law School Stadium is a Winning Wednesday on August 3rd, opening a seven-game homestand. For more information or to purchase your tickets, call 517-485-4500 or visit lansinglugnuts.com.

 

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