Ostberg’s Homer lifts Bootleggers over Braves 3-1

Bowling Green, Kentucky– Erik Ostberg’s eighth inning homer led to a 3-1 Bowling Green Bootleggers (16-11) win over the Rome Braves (15-12) on Thursday at Bowling Green Ballpark in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Hot Rods and Braves play the fourth game of a six-game series on Friday with a 6:35 PM CT first pitch.

The Braves broke onto the scoreboard first against Bootleggers starter Peyton Battenfield. With one out, Kevin Josephina doubled and Michael Harris II followed with a single, moving Josephina to third. The Braves executed a double steal, with Josephina taking home plate to give Rome a 1-0 lead.

It took Bowling Green until the sixth inning to score their first run against Rome starter Bryce Elder. Blake Hunt doubled with one out to left field. Ruben Cardenas reached on an error by Braves shortstop Riley Delgado, who threw the ball into the stands to bring in Hunt and tie the game, 1-1.

Kasey Kalich pitched the bottom of the eighth inning for Rome, giving up two runs that broke the tie. Grant Witherspoon worked a two-out walk and Ostberg hit a homer 444 feet to right-center field to give Bowling Green a 3-1 edge. Bootleggers pitcher Alan Strong closed out the ninth inning to give Bowling Green a 3-1 win.

Battenfield tossed 5.0 innings, giving up one run on three hits while striking out eight in a no-decision. Tanner Dodson pitched 2.0 scoreless innings allowing two hits and striking out one. Strong (1-0) pitched the final 2.0 innings, surrendering one hit and striking out two in his first win this season.

Notes: Cardenas extended his on-base streak to 23 games and his hit streak 13 games… Ostberg’s home run was his first since returning to the Hot Rods after a brief call-up to AA Montgomery… This was his third multi-RBI game of the year… McGowan had his third multi-hit game of the season… Battenfield pitched a career high 5.0 innings… The win gives the Hot Rods the High-A East South Division lead… They sit 1.0 game ahead of Rome… They are 5-4 against the Braves this season… Bowling Green is 3-0 in two-run games this year… BG is 5-4 when opponents score first… They are 5-9 while opponents out hit them… The Hot Rods have hit nine home runs in the eighth inning or later in 2021… They have also scored 36 runs in the eighth inning or later… Bowling Green and Rome play game four of a six-game series with a 6:35 PM CT first pitch Friday… Bowling Green sends RH Zack Trageton (1-1, 3.26) against Rome RH Tanner Gordon (0-1, 3.79)… 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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