Bowling Green, Kentucky – Starting Pitcher Blake Morgan earned his first High-A win with 5.0 innings of one-run ball as the Bowling Green Bootleggers (76-39, 29-21) rolled to an 11-2 win over the Greensboro Grasshoppers (70-47, 29-22) on Thursday night at Bowling Green Ballpark in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The Bootleggers started strong, plating three runs against starting pitcher Levi Sterling in the bottom of the first. A fielding error plated the game’s first two runs, and a Noah Myers sacrifice fly to center field boosted the lead to 3-0.
The Grasshoppers pulled one run back against Morgan in the top of the third inning. Yordany De Los Santos singled, moved to second on an Edward Florentino walk, and a Jared Jones base hit plated De Los Santos, making it 3-1 Bowling Green.
The hosts tallied three more runs off Sterling in the bottom of the third. Myers dribbled an RBI bunt single and Ricardo Gonzalez smoked a two-run double to expand the Bootleggers’ advantage to 6-1.
Bowling Green scored three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning against relief arm Brayden Risley. Narciso Polanco recorded a single and a stole second base, queuing Tony Santa Maria in for an RBI base knock to right field. Ryan Cermak powered a two-run home run to right-center field two pitches later, growing the Bootleggers’ advantage to 9-1.
Two more runs came home for Bowling Green against Risley in the bottom of the fifth. Nicandro Aybar and Larry Martinez collected two-out singles. Brendan Summerhill singled to right, and a fielding error allowed both runners to score for an 11-1 lead.
Greensboro plated one consolation run against Jackson Lancaster in the top of the ninth. Shalin Polanco logged a one out single, advanced to second on a De Los Santos base hit and moved to third on a Florentino walk. A wild pitch brought Polanco in, but Lancaster retired the next two batters to cement an 11-2 Bowling Green victory.
Morgan (1-1) delivered the win, pitching 5.0 innings, allowing one run on four hits, two walks and adding five strikeouts. Sterling (0-1) was given the loss, surrendering six runs (four earned) on three hits, four walks, and four punch outs.
The Hot Rods play game four of this six-game series Friday night at 6:35 PM CT. Bowling Green will send LHP Dominic Fritton (0-2, 9.00) against Greensboro LHP Reinold Navarro (0-0, 0.00).
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