Hot Rods Lose Nailbiter With Lugnuts

Lansing, MI - In another nailbiter with the Lansing Lugnuts, the Bowling Green Hot Rods were edged by a score of 3-2 on Thursday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.

For the second straight night, the Hot Rods offense was silenced by the Lugnuts pitching, lead by starter Ryan Borucki (W, 10-4).

Aside from giving up a RBI single to Hot Rods catcher David Rodriguez in the first inning, Borucki limited the Hot Rods offense to that run in five innings on just three hits to earn the win.

Fueling by another strong pitching performance, the Lugnuts got the only runs they needed in the third inning against Bowling Green starter Jose Mujica (L, 8-4), who was tabbed with his first loss in eleven starts.

To highlight a three-run frame against Mujica, Lansing got a RBI single from second basemen Cavan Biggio along with a run-scoring safety squeeze executed by shortstop Ryan Metzler. The Lugnuts scored their other run on a wild pitch from Mujica.

In holding on to the lead, three Lugnuts relievers combined to give up just one run over the final four innings to hold on for the win. Righty Andrew Case earned in second save in as many nights and tenth save of the season with another scoreless ninth inning.

Offensively, the Hot Rods scored their only other run in the seventh inning when catcher Brett Sullivan doubled, stole third and then scored on a wild pitch by Lugnuts righty Tom Robson. Aside from Sullivan, outfielder David Olmedo-Barrera paced the Hot Rods offensive attack with his second-straight two-hit game.

Even in the loss, the Hot Rods held the Lugnuts to three runs or fewer in the fifteenth straight game between the two teams during their season series this year.

With four games left, the Hot Rods are two wins away from tying their franchise-record for most wins in a season (82) set in 2013 and are 2 runs away for tying their season record for runs scored (681) set in 2012. Their magic number to clinch an outright division title in the second half is at two.

Bowling Green will continue their trek to team records and a second half division title on Thursday against the Lansing Lugnuts for the last regular season road game of the year.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm. Each game during the series will be played in eastern time.

You can also listen in to Play-by-Play Broadcaster Alex Cohen for all the games on www.bghotrods.com via the MLB TuneIn Radio Application or on 1340 The Ticket in Southcentral Kentucky.

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