Simon Powers Bootleggers to Victory

Bowling Green, Kentucky– Ronny Simon smacked the go-ahead home run and ultimately put the game out of reach with a second homer as the Bowling Green Bootleggers (18-11) hung on to beat the Jersey Shore BlueClaws (10-18) by a score of 6-5. The Bootleggers transform back into the Hot Rods for Friday’s showdown against Jersey Shore, with first pitch set for 6:35 pm CDT.

Jersey Shore scored two in the first inning, but Bowling Green struck back in a big way in the second. Heriberto Hernandez halved the BlueClaws lead with his sixth homer of the season to make it 2-1. Pedro Martinez led off the third with an infield hit. He stole his first base of the season before Simon gave Bowling Green a 3-2 lead with a home run down the rightfield line. Simon struck again in his next at bat, hitting a three-run blast near the same spot with two outs in the fourth inning to make it 6-2 Bootleggers.

The BlueClaws fought back in the sixth, adding three runs on a two-run homer by McCarthy Tatum and an RBI triple to cut the Bootleggers lead to 6-5. But the Bootleggers bullpen clamped down, retiring the final nine batters in order for a 6-5 win.

Franklin Dacosta threw 3.0 innings and allowed two runs on four hits with two strikeouts in a no-decision. Conor Dryer (3-0) threw two scoreless frames and struck out two in the process while earning the win. Sean Mullen came in for 2.1 innings of work, he allowed three runs on five hits and struck out three. Joe La Sorsa closed things out for the Bootleggers, throwing 1.2 perfect innings with three strikeouts and earned his third save.

Notes: Hernandez’s homer extended his hit streak to eight, extra-base hit streak to seven, and RBI streak to seven… Simon became the first Bowling Green Hitter with multiple home runs in a game this season… The last Hot Rods Hitter to have a multi-homer game was Erik Ostberg on August 19, 2021 at Greensboro… Simon also recorded multiple hits for the eighth time this season, tied for the team lead with Basabe and Infante… Thursday was Bowling Green’s first win as the Bootleggers in 2022… Basabe extended his hit streak to thirteen games before Tanner Murray pinch hit for him in the third… Dryer has recorded the win in each of his last three outings… Kyle Manzardo went 1-4 in his first game since April 15 after being activated from the IL on Thursday… RH Logan Workman (0-0, 0.00) makes his Hot Rods debut against BlueClaws RH Victor Vargas (1-1, 2.84) in the third game of the series… First pitch is set for 6:35 pm CDT on Friday, May 13… Fans are able to watch all Hot Rods home games via MiLB.tv… Fans can listen into the game on Talk 104.1 FM and 930 AM WKCT beginning with the Hot Rods Pregame Show at 6:05 PM CDT… Fans can also 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