Hulsizer and Cardenas Power Bootleggers to 7-1 Win

Bowling Green, Kentucky– Niko Hulsizer and Ruben Cardenas hit a pair of three-run homers to lift the Bowling Green Bootleggers (21-12) over the Aberdeen IronBirds (20-11) in a 7-1 win on Thursday at Bowling Green Ballpark in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The two teams play the fourth game of a six-game series on Friday with a 6:35 PM CT first pitch.

In the bottom of the first inning, the Bootleggers got onto the scoreboard against IronBirds starter Ryan Wilson. Pedro Martinez led off with a single and Greg Jones walked in the next at-bat. Cardenas grounded into a fielder’s choice to put runners on first and second. Hulsizer hit a homer to deep center field to make it a 3-0 Bootleggers edge.

Another run scored in the bottom of the second against Wilson. Jacson McGowan led off the inning with a solo home run into the bullpen in right field. The homer was McGowan’s sixth of the season and increased the Bootleggers lead to 4-0.

In the seventh inning, Aberdeen scored their first run against Bowling Green pitcher Zack Trageton. Cody Roberts led off the inning with a double and moved to third on a wild pitch. Maverick Handley grounded out to third base to score Roberts and cut the Aberdeen deficit to 4-1.

The Bootleggers added some insurance in the eighth inning against IronBirds reliever Morgan McSweeney. Osmy Gregorio led off the inning with a walk and Jones singled. Two pitches later, Cardenas blasted a three-run homer to right-center field and Trageton closed out the final inning to secure a 7-1 win.

Jacob Lopez tossed 3.2 scoreless innings, giving up one hit while walking four and striking out seven in a no-decision. Tanner Dodson (1-0) pitched 2.1 scoreless innings, walking one and striking out three in his first win of the season. Trageton (1) hurled 3.0 innings, allowing one run on one hit, while striking out two to earn his first save of the season.

Notes: Hulsizer extended his hitting streak to six games… He had his fifth multi-RBI game of the season… Hulsizer has five homers in 2021, all of which have come at Bowling Green Ballpark… Cardenas hit his team-leading eighth home run of the year… This was his seventh multi-RBI game of the season, which also leads the team… Lopez’s seven strikeouts tie the most he’s had at Bowling Green Ballpark in 2021… Lopez tied his career-high with four walks… This is the eighth time this season BG pitching has held opponents to one run or less… The Hot Rods are 13-7 this year when scoring first… They are 13-2 when out-hitting opponents… BG is 6-2 against left-handed starters this year… Bowling Green is 4-0 when Luis Trevino is catching… The Hot Rods are the first team in High-A to reach 21 wins… BG leads all of High-A with 53 home runs… This ties them for third in all of the MiLB… Five out of the top six teams in the home run rankings compete at the AAA level… The High-A Hot Rods are the only team not in AAA… Bowling Green and Aberdeen play again Friday at Bowling Green Ballpark with a 6:35 PM CT first pitch… The Hot Rods will start RH Jayden Murray (3-0, 1.30) against IronBirds RH Garret Stallings (3-2, 4.88)… 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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