Bowling Green, Kentucky – Tony Santa Maria matched a season-high three hits and reached base four times, but the Bowling Green Hot Rods (76-41, 29-23) lost 7-2 against the Greensboro Grasshoppers (72-47, 31-22) on Saturday night at Bowling Green Ballpark in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The Grasshoppers struck first with two runs in the top of the fourth inning against starting pitcher Dominic Niman. Johnny Severino doubled to center and Tony Blanco Jr. homered to right field, making it 2-0 Greensboro.
The visitors tacked on two more runs against Niman in the top of the fifth. Camden Janik worked a walk and Shalin Polanco tagged another two-run homer to right for a 4-0 Grasshoppers advantage.
Bowling Green plated two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning against two Greensboro pitchers. A Brendan Summerhill sacrifice fly to center field put the Hot Rods on the board. Tony Santa Maria singled, stole second, and raced home on a Narciso Polanco double to right field, making it 4-2 Greensboro.
Greensboro extended their lead with one run in the top of the sixth inning against Niman. Blanco Jr. clubbed his second home run of the afternoon, boosting the lead to 5-2.
The Grasshoppers added two runs in the top of the seventh frame against reliever Andres Galan. Shalin Polanco earned a one-out walk, Yordany De Los Santos stretched the inning with a two-out single, and both runners scored on a Severino single and Jhon Diaz error to increase the lead to 7-2.
Reliever Brandon Cain kept the Hot Rods’ bats off the board in the bottom of the ninth, rounding out a 7-2 final score.
Greensboro bullpen arm Carlson Reed (5-4) earned the win, hurling 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out one. Niman (7-6) took the loss, allowing five runs on eight hits, one walk and adding one strikeout.
The Hot Rods and Grasshoppers wrap up a six-game series Sunday afternoon at 1:05 PM CT. Bowling Green will send RHP Trevor Harrison (3-1, 4.65) to the mound against Greensboro RHP Draven Zeigler (4-4, 5.44).
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