Middle Innings Spell Disaster For Bowling Green In 9-4 Loss

SOUTH BEND, IN - LHP Brendan McKay turned in a stellar two innings on the mound, but it was not enough as the Bowling Green Hot Rods fell 9-4 to the South Bend Cubs. CF Carl Chester had a three-hit night to pace the Hot Rods offense.
Bowling Green got it going in the first inning on a 38 degree night at Four Winds Field. 2B Vidal Brujan led off with a single, then stole second and third, before scoring on a wild pitch, and it was 1-0 Hot Rods after one inning.
They added to the lead in the second, when Chester hit a two out, two RBI infield single that glanced off the second baseman's glove, and it was 3-0 Bowling Green.
McKay's night ended after two quick innings. He needed just 24 pitches to get through six batters, including four strikeouts. He did not allow a hit.
South Bend got on the board in the third off of reliever RHP Jhonleider Salinas . C Teddy Payne just missed a home run, but it went for an RBI double, and it was 3-1 Hot Rods.
Bowling Green responded in the fourth, when another single by Chester scored RF Emilio Gustave , making it 4-1 Bowling Green.
Unfortunately for the Hot Rods, the night turned south after that. Over the next two innings, the Cubs scored seven runs and took control of the game. Salinas tied a franchise record with seven walks in the game, matching Enny Romero 's total from May 15, 2011.
Salinas (0-1, 27.00) took the loss, throwing two and one-third innings, allowing eight runs (seven earned), five hits and seven walks, striking out one.
RHP Cory Abbott (1-0, 5.40) earned the win. He pitched five innings, allowing seven hits and four runs (three earned), striking out four.
LHP Resly Linares will make his first start of the season tomorrow night for Bowling Green. South Bend will counter with LHP Brendon Little . First pitch from Four Winds Field is set for 7:05pm Eastern Daylight Time.
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