Bowling Green, Kentucky – Down to the Bowling Green Hot Rods’ (76-42, 29-24) final strikes, Jhon Diaz and Tony Santa Maria erupted for back-to-back solo home runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Greensboro Grasshoppers (73-47, 32-22) surged for six runs in extras to take an 11-5 win in 11 innings Sunday afternoon at Bowling Green Ballpark in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Greensboro got on the board first with two runs in the top of the second against Bowling Green starter Trevor Harrison. Axiel Plaz logged a base hit to center, and Jared Jones ripped a two-run home run to left-center field, making it 2-0 Grasshoppers.
The visitors tagged three more runs in the top of the fourth against Harrison. A solo home run from Jones and a two-run shot from Tony Blanco Jr., each to right-center field, increased the Greensboro advantage to 5-0.
The Hot Rods scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh frame against reliever Hung-Leng Chang. Nicandro Aybar laced a base hit to left field, scoring the first run, a wild pitch brought in a second runner, and a Narciso Polanco earned a bases-loaded walk to reduce the Grasshoppers’ lead to 5-3.
Bowling Green tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the ninth against bullpen arm Greiber Mendez. Diaz and Santa Maria slugged back-to-back solo shots, evening the contest at 5-5. Victor Cabreja recorded the last out in the inning, leading to extra innings.
Neither team plated their extra-innings runner in the 10th inning, bringing the contest into an 11th frame. The Grasshoppers plated six runs against reliever Jacob Hartlaub. Blanco Jr. struck a go-ahead two-run shot to center field, Edward Florentino powered a grand slam to right field, and Greensboro gained an 11-5 lead.
Bowling Green went scoreless in the home half of the 11th, resulting in an 11-5 final score.
Cabreja (7-4) delivered the win for Greensboro, firing 2.1 scoreless innings, walking one and striking out three. Hartlaub (1-2) was charged with the loss for Bowling Green, giving up six runs (five earned) on five hits and one walk in 1.0 inning pitched.
The Hot Rods travel to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to begin a six-game series against the Winston-Salem Dash, beginning Tuesday, August 25. Game one at Truist Stadium is slated for 5:30 PM CT.
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