Manzardo Mashes and Workman Shuts Out Cyclones in DH Split

Bowling Green, Kentucky– The Bowling Green Hot Rods (24-16) overcame an extra innings loss thanks to a shutout start from Logan Workman to earn a split in a doubleheader against the Brooklyn Cyclones (18-20) on Wednesday at Bowling Green Ballpark. BG and Brooklyn will continue their series on Thursday evening with first pitch set for 6:35 pm CDT.

Game one of the doubleheader was lengthened by an 84-minute rain delay, but the Hot Rods offense. The first three Bowling Green hitters reached with singles, with the third being an RBI single from Kyle Manzardo to start the scoring. Diego Infante drove in Osleivis Basabe on a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0, and Logan Driscoll was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to give the Hot Rods a 3-0 lead before the delay.

After two batters reached base before the rain for Brooklyn, and they used an error and two RBI base hits to tie the game up at three. A run-scoring triple from Infante plated Basabe to give BG the lead back, but it did not last long, as the Cyclones put five runs across in the fourth. Manzardo helped the Hot Rods chip away at the lead, with a solo homer in the bottom half of the fourth to cut the deficit to 8-5. Brooklyn added a run in the fifth before Manzardo struck again with another solo shot to bring the score to 9-6.

Brooklyn’s lead held until the seventh, when Beau Brundage tied the game on the first pitch he saw with a three-run blast to centerfield. The Cyclones put up two in the eighth that went unanswered and won in extras by a score of 11-9.

Nathan Wiles threw 1.0 inning before the delay, allowing two runs on one hit with a walk and two strikeouts. Anthony Molina threw 2.0 innings with four hits, one run allowed and one strikeout. Franklin Dacosta gave up six runs on eight hits in 2.0 innings of work with a strikeout and a walk allowed in a blow save. Nomar Rojas threw 2.0 scoreless frames, with a hit and two walks allowed along with two strikeouts. Joe LaSorsa (2-3) took the loss in 1.0 innings, allowing two unearned runs on two hits with a strikeout.

In game two the Hot Rods exploded with two big innings. Bowling Green jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second when Matthew Dyer led off with a hit and stole second base. He advanced to third on Heriberto Hernandez’s groundout before Alexander Ovalles smacked an RBI base hit to start the scoring. He advanced to second on an error that put Alejandro Pie on first and scored on Garrett Hiott’s RBI single that made it 2-0. In the next at bat, Alika Williams drove Pie home to make it 3-0.

Bowling Green put their final five runs across in the fourth with two outs. Hiott walked and Pie beat out a grounder for an infield single. Williams cleared the bases with a double that grew the lead to 5-0. Basabe singled to score Williams for a 6-0 lead. Infante hit a two-run homer that made the score 8-0, capping the scoring to finish off the victory.

Logan Workman (1-0) earned the victory with 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and walking one with four strikeouts. Graeme Stinson threw the final 2.0 scoreless innings, striking out two batters without allowing a baserunner.

Notes: BG has now split two of the three doubleheaders they’ve played in 2022… Manzardo became the second Hot Rods hitter with multiple homers in a game this season… Brundage’s three-run shot in the seventh was the eighth game-tying homer of the season… Game two marked the third shutout of the year… BG’s pitching staff allowed one hit, the fewest they’ve allowed in a game this season… Workman earned his first win as a Hot Rod… Williams drove in three runs in game two for the third time this season… Murray set a new person season-high with three hits in game one…Basabe recorded a hit in each game, bringing his hit streak to five games… Hot Rods RH Seth Johnson (1-1, 3.00) returns to the mound for the third time against Brooklyn, where he will face off against RH Carson Seymour (0-0, 0.0) on Thursday, May 26… First pitch is set for 6:35 pm CDT… Fans can listen into the game on Talk 104.1 FM and 930 AM WKCT beginning with Hot Rods Gameday at 6:05 PM CDT… Fans can also watch live on MiLB.tv, listen in via the MiLB First Pitch app on Android and IOS, or go to the Hot Rods website at www.bghotrods.com.

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Hot Rods Baseball