Hot Rods Beat Loons 5-1 Behind Franklin, Chester

MIDLAND, MI - The Bowling Green Hot Rods (23-15) beat the Great Lakes Loons (12-24) 5-1 this evening, behind a strong start from RHP Austin Franklin and CF Carl Chester 's first career home run.
Franklin got into a spot of bother in the first inning, allowing back to back hits to start the inning, including an RBI double, and it was 1-0 Great Lakes.
The Hot Rods responded with a two run inning in the second. LF Moises Gomez singled and then two batters later, Chester hit a moon shot to left field that cleared the ballpark on one bounce. It was his first career home run, and it gave the Hot Rods a 2-1 lead.
Bowling Green added to the lead in the sixth. SS Zach Rutherford hit a single, extending his hit streak to 12 games. After advancing to second on a wild pitch, he scored when the Loons misplayed a fly ball from Gomez, and it was 3-1 Hot Rods.
In the ninth, the Hot Rods earned a couple insurance runs. After Chester worked a two-out walk, 3B Jim Haley roped an RBI double down the line in left, and it was 4-1. RF Eleardo Cabrera followed with an RBI single to left, and it scored Haley, making it 5-1 Hot Rods.
Franklin settled down after the first inning, and allowed just four hits the rest of the way. He earned the win, throwing seven innings (tying a career high), striking out six without walking a batter. RHP Phoenix Sanders earned his second career save.
The Hot Rods will look to split the series tomorrow when they send out RHP Alex Valverde (2-1, 4.45) in the series finale. The Loons will counter with RHP Max Gamboa (0-3, 7.84). First pitch from Dow Diamond is set for 7:05pm Eastern time.
 
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