Hot Rods cool off Lugnuts, 8-4
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Bowling Green Hot Rods (4-4) pitchers piled up 18 strikeouts and former Michigan Wolverine Jake Cronenworth had a key three-run double, topping the Lansing Lugnuts (3-2), 8-4, on Thursday night at Bowling Green Ballpark.
The loss stopped the Lugnuts' three-game winning streak.
Rain delayed first pitch for 34 minutes and returned sporadically throughout the game, including a crucial moment in the sixth inning.
After Lane Thomas's first home run of the year tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the sixth, the Hot Rods loaded the bases against Tayler Saucedo (Loss, 0-2) in the home half. Cronenworth followed with a fly ball toward the left field corner that eluded Connor Panas, clearing the bases.
The Hot Rods added on from there, with Brett Sullivan lofting a two-run homer in the seventh and Joe McCarthy icing the game with a two-run single in the eighth.
The Lugnuts did plate three runs against Bowling Green's bullpen, thanks to a wild pitch in the eighth and a two-run Andrew Guillotte single in the ninth, but could draw no closer, especially as the strikeouts mounted.
Bowling Green starter Cameron Varga (Win, 2-0) fanned ten batters in six innings, Ian Gibaut recorded five strikeouts in the seventh and eighth innings, and Roel Ramirez fanned three more in the ninth, including a whiff of Gunnar Heidt to end the game.
Both Jake Anderson and Ryan Hissey struck out four times apiece.
It was an even more frustrating game for Lugnuts shortstop J.C. Cardenas, who committed three errors -- each, weirdly, on a ball hit by Bowling Green's Angel Moreno -- that led to four unearned runs.
In the losing cause, Lansing starter Jon Harris fired four innings, striking out two while allowing one run on four hits and two walks, and Guillotte, Thomas and Connor Panas each notched two hits.
The Lugnuts and Hot Rods play the second game in their four-game series at 7:35 p.m. Eastern on Friday night. Right-hander Francisco Rios goes for Lansing against Hot Rods southpaw Michael Velasquez.
The Lansing Lugnuts return home on Monday, April 18th, opening a seven-game homestand against Fort Wayne and Lake County. To purchase tickets to cheer on the Lugnuts in 2016, stop by the Cooley Law School Stadium box office, call (517) 485-4500 or visit lansinglugnuts.com.
The loss stopped the Lugnuts' three-game winning streak.
Rain delayed first pitch for 34 minutes and returned sporadically throughout the game, including a crucial moment in the sixth inning.
After Lane Thomas's first home run of the year tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the sixth, the Hot Rods loaded the bases against Tayler Saucedo (Loss, 0-2) in the home half. Cronenworth followed with a fly ball toward the left field corner that eluded Connor Panas, clearing the bases.
The Hot Rods added on from there, with Brett Sullivan lofting a two-run homer in the seventh and Joe McCarthy icing the game with a two-run single in the eighth.
The Lugnuts did plate three runs against Bowling Green's bullpen, thanks to a wild pitch in the eighth and a two-run Andrew Guillotte single in the ninth, but could draw no closer, especially as the strikeouts mounted.
Bowling Green starter Cameron Varga (Win, 2-0) fanned ten batters in six innings, Ian Gibaut recorded five strikeouts in the seventh and eighth innings, and Roel Ramirez fanned three more in the ninth, including a whiff of Gunnar Heidt to end the game.
Both Jake Anderson and Ryan Hissey struck out four times apiece.
It was an even more frustrating game for Lugnuts shortstop J.C. Cardenas, who committed three errors -- each, weirdly, on a ball hit by Bowling Green's Angel Moreno -- that led to four unearned runs.
In the losing cause, Lansing starter Jon Harris fired four innings, striking out two while allowing one run on four hits and two walks, and Guillotte, Thomas and Connor Panas each notched two hits.
The Lugnuts and Hot Rods play the second game in their four-game series at 7:35 p.m. Eastern on Friday night. Right-hander Francisco Rios goes for Lansing against Hot Rods southpaw Michael Velasquez.
The Lansing Lugnuts return home on Monday, April 18th, opening a seven-game homestand against Fort Wayne and Lake County. To purchase tickets to cheer on the Lugnuts in 2016, stop by the Cooley Law School Stadium box office, call (517) 485-4500 or visit lansinglugnuts.com.
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