Wiegand Stays Hot On Home Stand

Bowling Green, KY - Ryan Wiegand picked up his 16th double along with an RBI on Sunday afternoon, but the Hot Rods couldn't string together enough hits in a 7-2 loss to the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Bowling Green Ballpark. The loss evens the series at one game each heading into the finale on Monday night.

Wiegand's double came in the top of the first inning against Kernels starter Fabio Martinez. Wiegand sent a stinging line drive to the warning track in right field with Tyler Bortnick aboard at first base. Bortnick tired to score on the play but the Kernels executed a perfect relay to cut him down at home plate to end the inning.

From there, the Kernels controlled the offensive flow of the game. After getting stymied by Jason McEachern for three innings, the Kernels struck for four runs in the fourth inning by getting a two-run triple from Justin Bass followed by a two-run home run from Carlos Ramirez.

They added another run in the fifth with a Jeremy Cruz homer to make it 5-0 before McEachern left the game after 4.2 frames. He ended up allowing five runs on eight hits, giving up two more homers. In his last five outings he has surrendered 11 long balls while losing three of those starts.

After another home run in the fifth by the Kernels, the Hot Rods managed their lone run against Martinez in the bottom of the inning, finally capitalizing on his wildness. They loaded the bases up with a pair of singles and a walk, setting up Kyle Spraker, who drew another walk to cut the deficit to 6-1.

Cedar Rapids added a third homer in the seventh before Wiegand came through with his RBI in the bottom of the eighth. Spraker walked to begin the inning, taking third on a double by Bortnick. That's when Wiegand came up and grounded out to first base, driving home Spraker for his 50th RBI of the season.

Wiegand finished the day 1-4 as the Hot Rods managed just five hits as a club. They drew a total of eight walks on the day, including three by Spraker, but went just 1-12 with runners-in-scoring-position, stranding a total of eight men on the bases.

The series and the home stand come to an end up Monday night as the Hot Rods hold Circus Night at Bowling Green Ballpark. It is also Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield Night featuring the WKU Mobile Health Unit on the main entry plaza. First pitch is 7:05 PM. Gates open at 5:30 PM for Season Ticket holders; 6 PM for the general public. For ticket information, visit www.bghotrods.com, call (270) 901-2121 or stop by the Hot Rods Ticket Office today.

The Hot Rods sent RHP Kirby Yates (2-4, 2.88) to the mound in the finale against RHP Ariel Pena (3-2, 4.65). Follow the game on the radio with Tom Gauthier and Hank Fuerst at 6:50 PM on 1340 WBGN and www.bghotrods.com.