Rondon, Hot Rods Beat Loons 5-4

MIDLAND, MI - The Bowling Green Hot Rods (24-15) beat the Great Lakes Loons (12-25) 5-4 this evening, despite collecting a season low two base hits. A sac fly and RBI from 3B Adrian Rondon in the top of the ninth was enough to get past the Loons and earn the Hot Rods' 24^th win of the year.
Bowling Green scored twice in the first inning without getting a hit. They used three walks, a wild pitch, and a ground out to take a 2-0 lead after a half inning.
In the second, the Hot Rods doubled their lead. Rondon led off with a double, and scored when RF Emilio Gustave reached on an error. Gustave then scored two batters later on a ground out from 2B Vidal Brujan and it was 4-0 Bowling Green.
Great Lakes got on the board with a three run home run from LF Starling Heredia in the fourth, making it 4-3 Hot Rods.
The Hot Rods offense went cold in the middle of the game, as 17 in a row were retired, with the last three of those 17 outs sending the game to the bottom of the eighth.
Heredia struck again with two outs, doing the same thing he did on Monday, as he tied the game with a solo home run, and it was 4-4.
In the ninth, the Hot Rods worked two walks and then an intentional free pass to CF Carl Chester set the stage for Rondon, who hit a fly ball to left field that scored C Ronaldo Hernandez , making it 5-4.
Rondon wasn't done, however, as he helped start a game-ending 5-4-3 double play to seal the Hot Rods' win.
RHP Alex Valverde received a no decision. He threw four innings, allowing two hits and three runs (all earned), walking three and striking out a career high seven batters. RHP Tyler Zombro picked up his fifth win of the season, throwing the final two innings.
The Hot Rods will take on the Lansing Lugnuts in the first game of a three game series. First pitch is set for 7:05pm Eastern time. Starters have yet to be announced.
 
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