Hot Rods Doubled Up by Cubs, Lose Series

South Bend, IN - Wrapping up a three-game series at Four Winds Field, the Bowling Green Hot Rods dropped a rubbermatch game with the South Bend Cubs by a score of 8-4 on Wednesday night.

For the sixth straight games against the Cubs in 2016, the Hot Rods scored the first run of the game in the first inning. After shortstop Jacob Cronenworth and third basemen Michael Russell led off the game by reaching base against Cubs starter Justin Steele (W, 1-2), a run-scoring groundout off the bat of outfielder Angel Perez and a RBI single by David Rodriguez plated both of them to put the Hot Rods up 2-0.

Unfortunately, the lead would not last for long. In the bottom half of the frame, South Bend cranked out five hits against Hot Rods starter Cameron Varga (L, 2-1) and scored four runs highlighted by a two-run single by outfielder Eddy Julio Martinez and a RBI single by outfielder Daniel Spingola.

After the Hot Rods got a run back in the third inning to cut their deficit to 4-3, the Cubs came back in the bottom of that inning with five straight singles against Varga to begin the frame, plating four more runs to go up 8-3 and take the lead for good.

The only other run the Hot Rods were able to plate was in the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Kevin Padlo.

On a positive note for Bowling Green, they got a combined six innings of scoreless relief from lefty Jose Alvarado and righty Taylor Hawkins to end the game.

Offensively, the Hot Rods churned out nine hits from four total players, with Rodriguez pacing the team with three hits while Cronenworth, Russell and first basemen Joe McCarthy each chipped in with two hits apiece.

With the loss, the Hot Rods fell to 1-5 against South Bend this year and are now just 2-6 away from Bowling Green Ballpark this year.

The Hot Rods will continue with the second leg of their roadtrip on Thursday by opening up a four-game series with the Great Lakes Loons at Dow Diamond Ballpark. Bowling Green will send RHP Roel Ramirez to the bump while the Loons will counter with RHP Issac Anderson. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. All seven games of the Hot Rods current roadtrip will be in the eastern time zone.  

You can also listen in to Play-by-Play Broadcaster Alex Cohen for all the games on www.bghotrods.com via the MLB TuneIn Radio Application or on 1340 The Ticket in Southcentral Kentucky.

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