Bowling Green, Kentucky – Ryan McCoy blasted his 18th homer of the season, but the Bowling Green Hot Rods (79-46, 32-28) dropped an offensive thriller, 13-11 to the Greenville Drive (57-67, 31-30) on Tuesday at Bowling Green Ballpark in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Bowling Green broke onto the scoreboard first in the bottom of the first inning against Greenville starter Jacob Mayers. Brendan Summerhill reached on a leadoff single, stole second base, and advanced to third on a passed ball. Nathan Flewelling walked and attempted to steal second, allowing Summerhill to score for a 1-0 Bowling Green lead.
The Drive responded with five runs in the top of the second against Bowling Green starter Blake Morgan. The frame was highlighted by RBI doubles from Yophery Rodriguez and Skylar King, capped off by a two-run homer from Jake Schaffner, bringing the score to 5-1 in favor of the Drive.
The Hot Rods responded in the bottom of the second against Mayers. Ryan Cermak led off with a solo homer to left, making it 5-2. McCoy doubled and stole second, and Ricardo Gonzalez knocked him in with a single, bringing the score to 5-3.
Another two runs came around to score in the top of the third for Greenville against Morgan. Gerardo Rodriguez led off with a double and Isaiah Jackson singled, putting runners on the corners. A double play off the bat of Ronny Hernandez scored Gerardo Rodriguez, bringing the score to 6-3. Yophery Rodriguez doubled, and Antonio Anderson scored him with a base hit, increasing the lead to 7-3.
Bowling Green brought a run back in the bottom of the fourth against Mayers. McCoy led off with a double and stole third base. Nicandro Aybar walked, and a disengagement violation brought in McCoy to score, making it 7-4.
The Drive jumped back on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth against Morgan, using a two-run homer by Anderson to make it 9-4.
One run scored in the bottom of the sixth for the Hot Rods against Drive reliever Brady Tygart. Cermak reached on a bunt single. Carlos Colmenarez singled, and an error from Jackson in right allowed Cermak to score, cutting the Drive lead to 9-5.
Bowling Green rattled off four runs in the bottom of the seventh, headlined by a game-tying, three-run homer from McCoy, evening the score at 9-9.
The Hot Rods briefly took the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning against Tygart. Summerhill logged a two-out single, stole second, advanced to third on an error, and scored on a passed ball to give the Hot Rods a 10-9 lead.
Greenville responded immediately in the top of the ninth against Bowling Green reliever Ryan Andrade. Yophery Rodriguez blasted a three-run homer, and Anderson followed with a solo shot, giving the Drive a 13-10 advantage.
In the bottom of the ninth, Narciso Polanco belted a home run to right, bringing the score to 13-11. Aaron Nixon entered for Greenville, recording the final two outs, ending the game with a 13-11 Greenville victory.
Tygart (4-0) received the win, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits, walking two and six strikeouts over 4.0 innings. Andrade (3-2) was given the loss, surrendering four runs on four hits, striking out one over 1.0 inning. Nixon (2) earned the save while recording two outs.
The Hot Rods and Drive play the second game of a six-game series on Wednesday with a 6:35 PM CT first pitch at Bowling Green Ballpark. Bowling Green will send LHP Dominic Fritton (0-4, 7.45) against Greenville LHP Jason Gilman (0-2, 4.08).
Fans can catch all the action by watching on MiLB.tv, listening through the MiLB First Pitch App and BGHotRods.com. Fans can also secure their seats for future home Hot Rods games by calling (270) 901-2121, visiting the Bowling Green Ballpark box office during normal business hours, or going to www.bghotrods.com.
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Hot Rods Baseball