Hot Rods Can't Escape Early Deficit in 8-4 Loss to Captains

Erik Ostberg hit his first home run of the season and Jordan Qsar drove in three runs, but the Bowling Green Hot Rods couldn't overcome a pair of five-run deficits, falling 8-4 to the Lake County Captains. The Hot Rods fell to 61-44, 22-13 in the second half, and will look to avoid the series sweep on Monday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 12:05 p.m. tomorrow.

After a scoreless first inning, Lake County took the lead against Hot Rods starter Easton McGee. McGee hit a batter with one out, then allowed a two-out single. Makesiondon Kelkboom then connected on the first pitch he saw from McGee and deposited it into the left-field bullpen for a three-run homer, giving the Captains a 3-0 lead.
In the next two innings, the Captains tallied additional runs against McGee. With two outs in the third, Cody Farhat tripled off the right-field wall, then scored on an infield single by Jonathan Engelmann. An inning later, Connor Smith led with a single, then came home on Erik Rodriguez's RBI double, extending the Lake County lead to 5-0.
Bowling Green put a dent into the deficit in the fourth inning, as Ostberg led off the inning by launching a pitch from Matt Turner over the right-field bullpen for his first home run of the season. Two batters later, Grant Witherspoon tripled to right-center, then scored on a ground ball from Qsar, cutting the deficit to 5-2.
In the fifth, though, Lake County got both runs back against Nick Sprengel. After a catcher's interference wiped out a potential double play, Smith singled home two runs, restoring the Captains five-run cushion.
The Hot Rods once more chiseled away in the sixth as Ostberg and Witherspoon drew walks off of new pitcher Luis Araujo. Qsar followed with a double off the center-field wall that scored both runners, trimming the Lake County advantage to 7-4.
However, Bowling Green drew no closer against the Captains' bullpen. Lake County added on a run in the ninth off Nathan Witt, giving the Captains the 8-4 cushion that wound up being the final score.
McGee (7-3) went 4.0 innings, allowing five runs on six hits, striking out five and issuing no walks in taking the loss. Sprengel went 3.0 innings, allowing two runs (one earned on two hits and one walk, while striking out four. Nathan Witt went 2.0 innings, allowing a run on two hits, walking one and striking out two.
Notes: Aranda has a six-game hitting streak…Qsar tied his season high with three RBI…Ostberg connected for his first home run since August 10, 2018 with Hudson Valley…He also recorded his fourth multi-hit game…Sprengel tied a season-high by throwing 3.0 innings for the fourth time…He struck out a season-high four batters for a second-straight outing…Bowling Green fell to 19-7 in day games…The Hot Rods had a streak of 14 straight wins in day games at home (dating back to August 27, 2018) snapped…The Hot Rods are 36-19 at home…They're 13-14 against left-handed starters…BG is 17-11-4 in series this season…The Hot Rods will finish the three-game series against the Lake County Captains on Monday afternoon, with first pitch at 12:05 p.m.…RHP Caleb Sampen (7-4, 2.97) will start for Bowling Green against Lake County LHP Eli Lingos (2-1, 3.68)…Tomorrow is Merchandise Monday, featuring select discounted merchandise in the Body Shop team store… Fans can catch all the action with Shawn Murnin on Willie 107.9 FM, as well as, with their smart phones via the MiLB First Pitch app and TuneIn Radio app.
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