Lugnuts Hold Off Hot Rods to Win, 5-4

Lansing, Mich. - A four-run fourth inning paved the way for the Lansing Lugnuts (Class-A/Toronto Blue Jays) to salvage a series split with the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Tampa Bay Rays). The Hot Rods finished their first series of the second half with a 2-2 record, and now travel home for a three-game series beginning Tuesday night.

The game got off to a flying start in the top of the second with a historic result for Juniel Querecuto. He lined a home run to right field for his first homer of his professional career, which has spanned parts of four seasons and 1,065 at-bats. Querecuto upped his average to .285 on the day, and the long ball made it 1-0 Bowling Green.

Hot Rods starter Jaime Schultz was forced to leave the game in the bottom of the second with what appeared to be a lower body injury. The Lugnuts capitalized with four runs in the fourth. Matt Dean drew walk to start the inning, and he would later score on a wild pitch to tie the game at one. Run-scoring singles were added by Mike Reeves, Ian Parmley, and D.J. Davis to extend the Lugnuts lead to 4-1.

A two-out rally for Bowling Green cut the Lansing advantage to just one. Armando Araiza and Querecuto started it with singles, and Oscar Hernandez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ty Young then singled to center field to plate both Araiza and Querecuto, trimming the deficit to 4-3.

Dean stretched the lead back to two runs with a solo home run to the left-field lawn in the seventh.

The Hot Rods rally in the ninth nearly tied the game, but it was cut short. With Hernandez at first base, Young tripled to drive him home and cut the lead to one. Young was left at third base to end the game, and Lansing held on for the 5-4 win. Young finished the day with four hits and three runs batted in.

Schreiber (1-4) replaced Schultz and picked up the loss. He allowed three runs over two innings. Jeremy Gabryszwski (5-2) started the game for the Lugnuts and earned his fifth victory of the season.

The Hot Rods will take a rare day off on Monday, but will return to action at Bowling Green Ballpark on Tuesday night. They'll welcome the Lake County (Cleveland Indians) for a three-game series, beginning with an All About You Urgent Clinic T-Shirt Tuesday. Gates will open at 6 p.m. CT and first pitch will be tossed at 7:05 p.m. CT. For tickets and more information, fans can visit BGHotRods.com or call 270-901-2121.

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