Gregorio’s Three-Run Blast Lifts Hot Rods to 5-3 Win

Bowling Green, Kentucky– Osmy Gregorio fell a triple shy of the cycle and his three-run homer helped the Bowling Green Hot Rods (22-12) take down the Aberdeen IronBirds (20-12) on Friday, 5-3 at Bowling Green Ballpark in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The two teams play the fifth game of a six-game series on Saturday with a 6:35 PM CT first pitch.

Aberdeen started the game with three runs against Hot Rods starter Jayden Murray in the top of the first inning. With one out, Jordan Westburg singled and Kyle Stowers hit a two-run homer to take the lead, 2-0. In the next at-bat, Zach Watson hit a solo home run to increase the IronBirds advantage to 3-0.

Bowling Green responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the second against IronBirds starter Garrett Stallings. Niko Hulsizer led off with a walk and moved up to third on a Jordan Qsar single. Two outs later, Gregorio hit a three-run homer that sailed over the bullpen in right field to tie the game at 3-3.

With Stallings still on the mound, Bowling Green added another run in the fifth inning. Evan Edwards hit a two-out single and scored on a Niko Hulsizer RBI double to make it a 4-3 Hot Rods lead.

Bowling Green scored one more run in the sixth inning against IronBirds reliever Clayton McGinness. Jacson McGowan led off with a walk and moved to third on a Gregorio single and a throwing error. Blake Hunt brought in McGowan on a sacrifice fly to expand the lead to two runs and led to a 5-3 win.

Murray (4-0) went 5.0 innings, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out three in a win. Mikey York tossed 2.0 perfect innings with four strike outs. Zabaleta (1) hurled 2.0 scoreless innings, walking one and striking out three in his first save of the year.

Notes: Gregorio had his third multi-hit game this year… This was his first three-hit game in 2021… Gregorio also collected his third multi-RBI game of the season… His three-run homer in the second inning was his first home run of 2021… Hulsizer extended his hit-streak to six games… Gregorio, Hulsizer, and Hunt are tied for the team-lead with seven doubles… Murray tied his season-high with 5.0 innings pitched… This also ties the team-high… Bowling Green is 6-0 in two-run games… Hot Rods starters are 8-4… BG is 14-2 when out-hitting opponents… Bowling Green is 9-5 this year when opponents score first… The win is the third-straight for BG… They are 8-2 in the month of June… Bowling Green and Aberdeen play again Saturday with a 6:35 PM CT first pitch… The Hot Rods will start LH Joe La Sorsa (2-0, 2.66) against IronBirds RH Kyle Brnovich (3-1, 2.73)… Fans can catch all of the action by watching on MiLB.tv or listening 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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