Homers Boost Hot Rods to Fourth-Straight in 7-5 Win

Bowling Green, Kentucky– Home runs by Ruben Cardenas and Evan Edwards lifted the Bowling Green Hot Rods (18-11) to a 7-5 win over the Rome Braves (15-14) on Saturday at Bowling Green Ballpark in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The two teams play the finale of a six-game series on Sunday with a 5:35 PM CT first pitch.

For the fifth consecutive game this series, the Braves jumped onto the scoreboard first, this time against Hot Rods starter Jayden Murray. Michael Harris reached on an error by Bowling Green second baseman Osmy Gregorio, stealing second in the next at-bat. Bryce Ball drove him in with a single to take the lead 1-0. The Braves added one more run in the top of the fourth to make it a 2-0 advantage.

In the bottom of the fourth, Bowling Green scored against Rome starter Spencer Strider. Edwards led off, getting hit with a pitch. He moved to second on a Luis Trevino ground ball and scored when Gregorio singled to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Four runs scored in the fifth inning for the Hot Rods against Braves reliever Coleman Huntley III. Greg Jones led off with a triple and Cardenas hit a two-run homer to take the lead 3-2. In the next at-bat, Niko Hulsizer doubled and Edwards hit a home run off the scoreboard in right field to give the Hot Rods a 5-2 edge.

Bowling Green kept the pressure on with two more runs in the sixth with Huntley still on the mound. Gregorio led off with a double and scored on Grant Witherspoon’s double to take a four-run advantage. Cardenas singled and brought in Witherspoon to push Bowling Green’s lead to 7-2. The Braves scored three more runs, but Hot Rods reliever Chris Gau pitched the final four outs and secured a 7-5 Bowling Green win.

Murray (3-0) tossed 5.0 innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits, while striking out four and walking one in a win. Miller Hogan pitched 1.0 perfect frame. Mikey York hurled 1.0 scoreless inning, giving up one hit and striking out two. Ezequiel Zabaleta pitched 0.2 of an inning, giving up three hits and three runs, while striking out one and walking one. Gau (2) pitched 1.1 innings, walking one and striking out two in his second save of the season.

Notes: Cardenas increased his on-base streak to 24 games and his hit streak to 14 games… He also hit his team-leading seventh homer… Cardenas had his team-leading eighth multi-hit game… This was his fifth multi-RBI game in 2021… Edwards hit his first home run since May 9th against the Greenville Drive… This was his second multi-RBI game and fourth multi-hit game of the season… Murray’s 5.0 innings ties a season-high… This is the third time he has tossed 5.0 innings in 2021… Bowling Green has hit seven homers in the fifth inning this season… This ties the third inning as the most for the Hot Rods this year… BG tied their season-high win streak with four… They are now 7-4 against the Braves this year… This is their 15th win all-time against Rome… Bowling Green and Rome play the finale of a six-game series with a 5:35 PM CT first pitch Sunday… Bowling Green sends LH Joe La Sorsa (1-0, 2.93) against Rome RH Ricky DeVito (0-0, 2.66)… Fans can catch all of the action by watching on MiLB.tv or listening through the MiLB First Pitch app, tuning into WBGN 94.5 FM and 1340 AM, or visiting https://www.milb.com/bowling-green/fans/audio-listen-live.

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