Hot Rods’ Rally Come Up Short in 8-7 Defeat to Spartanburgers

Bowling Green, Kentucky – The Bowling Green Hot Rods (73-32, 26-14) rallied for six unanswered runs late, but the Hub City Spartanburgers (48-57, 14-25) hung on for an 8-7 final score Friday night at Bowling Green Ballpark in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Hub City opened the scoring with two runs in the top of the second against starting pitcher Jack Kartsonas. Maxton Martin laced a one-out double, Antonis Macias lifted a two-out single to plate the game’s first run. Arturo De Freitas roped a double to score Macias, making it 2-0 Spartanburgers.

The visitors tallied three more runs against Kartsonas in the top of the third. Casey Cook logged an automatic double, Gleider Figuereo walked, and Martin drilled a three-run home run for a 5-0 Hub City lead.

The Spartanburgers added another run in the top of the fourth inning against Kartsonas. Macias doubled, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a Carter Garate double, making it 6-0 Hub City.

Bowling Green got on the board with one run against Hub City starter Caden Scarborough in the bottom of the fifth inning. Ryan McCoy singled, advanced to second on a fielding error, and moved up to third on a fielder’s choice. Jhon Diaz was caught trying to steal second base, and McCoy raced in to score, cutting the Spartanburgers’ lead to 6-1.

Hub City plated one run against reliever Andres Galan in the top of the sixth. Macias doubled and came across on a Garate single to right field, making it 7-1.

The Spartanburgers added one more run in the top of the seventh inning against Galan. Cook clubbed a solo home run to right field for an 8-1 Hub City edge.

The Hot Rods surged for three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning against reliever Joe Adametz. Ryan Cermak singled, moved to second on a hit by pitch, and got to third on a Noah Myers single. A wild pitch allowed Cermak to cross home, making it 8-2. Nicandro Aybar lashed a two-run single into right field, trimming the Hub City lead to 8-4.

Bowling Green racked up three runs in the bottom of the eighth frame against Adametz. Nathan Flewelling was plunked, Narciso Polanco roped a double, and Cermak rolled a two-run single to center field, making it 8-6 Spartanburgers. A Spartanburgers throwing error plated Cermak, pulling the Hot Rods within a run.

The Hot Rods put the winning run on base in the bottom of the ninth against bullpen arm Luimy Muñoz. Aybar walked and advanced to second on a Larry Martinez sacrifice bunt. Flewelling walked with two outs, making it second and first. Polanco smoked a line drive into left-center field, but a diving catch by Hub City outfielder Marcos Torres closed the game with an 8-7 Spartanburgers victory.

Scarborough (1-4) dealt for the win, allowing just one unearned run on one hit and two walks, adding five strikeouts in 5.2 innings. Kartsonas (6-4) took the loss for Bowling Green, surrendering six runs on seven hits and one walk over 4.0 frames. Muñoz (2) got the save, firing 1.1 hitless innings, walking two and punching out one.

The Bowling Green White Squirrels return to the diamond for the penultimate game of a six-game series with the Spartanburgers Saturday night at 6:35 PM CT. Bowling Green will send LHP Dominic Fritton (0-0, 0.00) to the mound against Hub City RHP Izack Tiger (0-4, 10.26).

Fans can catch all the action by watching on MiLB.tv, listening through the MiLB First Pitch App and BGHotRods.com. Fans can also secure their seats for future home Hot Rods games by calling (270) 901-2121, visiting the Bowling Green Ballpark box office during normal business hours, or going to www.bghotrods.com.

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