Aranda’s Late Homer Lifts Hot Rods to 8-7 Win

Bowling Green, Kentucky– Jonathan Aranda hit a late go-ahead homer and Greg Jones hit a two-run homer in his first at bat in the Bowling Green Hot Rods (6-2) 8-7 win over the Asheville Tourists (3-4) on Tuesday night at Bowling Green Ballpark. The Hot Rods and Tourists will battle in the third game of a six-game series on Thursday night with a 6:35 PM CT first pitch.

Korey Lee homered for Asheville in the first against Bowling Green starter Zack Trageton in the first, but The Hot Rods responded quickly against Tourists starter Danny Cody. Pedro Martinez led off the bottom half of the first with a single and later came in to score off of an Evan Edwards sacrifice fly, tying the game at 1-1.

Bowling Green scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning against Cody. Jones got his first hit and homerun as a Hot Rod, bringing in the third and fourth runs of the game on a two-run home run. Blake Hunt followed Jones with a double and Edwards and Ruben Cardenas walked to load the bases. Grant Witherspoon walked against Tourists reliever Chandler Casey to force home the fifth BG run of the game. After an inning-ending triple play, the Hot Rods took a 5-1 lead into the fourth inning.

The Tourists scored two runs on an error in the fourth and three in the top of the fifth. Bowling Green got back onto the scoreboard to stay in the game. Jones led off with a single and Hunt doubled. Witherspoon brought both in with a two-run double, regaining the lead 7-6.

Asheville drove in another run in the top of the sixth inning, tying the game at 7-7. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Jonathan Aranda hit a solo shot to give the Hot Rods a 8-7 edge. The blast was Aranda’s first long-ball of the season and traveled 421 feet. Michael Costanzo walked the first two hitters he faced in the ninth before retiring the next three Tourists to secure a save in the 8-7 BG victory.

Trageton tossed 3.2 innings while allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits with a walk and six strikeouts in a no decision. Mikey York allowed three runs on two hits and a walk over his 1.0 inning of work with two strikeouts. Jacob Lopez (1-0) gave up one run in 3.1 innings of work while holding the

Tourists to two hits and a run with five strikeouts. Costanzo (1) earned the save in a scoreless inning of work with two walks and a strikeout.

Notes: Costanzo’s save is the first for a Hot Rods reliever this season… It was also his first save since August 30, 2019 which was also with the Hot Rods… Hunt has a four-game hit streak… Cardenas’ six-game scoring streak ended… Mikey York has inherited three runners and has not allowed one to score this season… Wednesday’s win was the first game this season decided by one run for BG… The Hot Rods are 2-0 on Wednesdays to start the season… Lopez has struck out five in each of his first two appearances of the season… Wednesday was also the first time Bowling Green won a game without scoring first… They’re 1-2 in games the opponent plates the first run… The Hot Rods are 9-6 all-time against the Tourists… They’re also 5-3 at Home against Asheville… The Hot Rods and Tourists will play the third game of the series on Thursday… The Bootleggers will send RH Jayden Murray (0-0, 0.00) to the mound against Tourists RH Jimmy Endersby (0-0, 4.50)… It’s Thirsty Thursday at Bowling Green Ballpark… Fans can enjoy $1 domestics and $2 Casey Jones Moonaritas… Bowling Green will play as the Bootleggers, wearing alternate jerseys to go along with their alternate identity… First pitch will be at 6:35 PM CT… Fans can catch all of the action 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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