Beech Tree News Network

Spikes logs multi-hit performance, Ledbetter legs out triple

Bowling Green, Kentucky – Yoniel Curet fanned seven hitters over his 5.0 innings of work, as the Bowling Green Bootleggers (11-6, 47-36) fell to the Hickory Crawdads (9-9, 37-47) 3-2 on Thursday at Bowling Green Ballpark. 

The Bootleggers tallied a run in the bottom of the fifth against Hickory starter Mitch Bratt. Brock Jones singled and advanced to second on a fielder's choice. Gregory Barrios singled, scoring Jones from second to give Bowling Green a 1-0 lead. 

The Crawdads responded in the top of the sixth facing Bootleggers reliever T.J. Fondtain. Gleider Figuereo crushed a solo home run to right, evening the game, 1-1. 

In the bottom of the eighth, Bowling Green broke the tie with Hickory reliever Josh Mollerus on the hill. Cooper Kinney and Colton Ledbetter singled, putting runners at first and third. Tatem Levins notched a base hit, scoring Kinney from third and putting the Bootleggers up 2-1.

Hickory rallied in the top of the ninth against Bowling Green reliever Drew Sommers. Ian Moller, Anthony Gutierrez, and Yosy Galan each singled to load the bases. Marcus Smith grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring Moller from third to tie the game, 2-2. With runners at the corners, Gutierrez stole home, giving Hickory a 3-2 lead. Crawdads reliever Gavin Collyer closed the game out in the ninth, finalizing the score, 3-2.

Mollerus (1-1) earned the victory after pitching 1.0 inning, surrendering one run on one hit and striking out two. Sommers (3-3) received the loss after tossing 1.0 inning, allowing two runs on three hits and striking out two. Collyer (2) earned the save after closing a perfect ninth inning, striking out two. 

Bowling Green and Hickory play game four of a six-game series Friday at Bowling Green Ballpark with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 CT PM. The Hot Rods send out RHP Owen Wild (3-1, 3.00), while Hickory starts RHP Ryan Lobus (3-4, 4.38).

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.

Isaac and Spikes homer, Taylor records 23rd multi-hit game

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Bowling Green, Kentucky – Bowling Green Hot Rods (11-5, 47-35) split a doubleheader with the Hickory Crawdads (8-9, 36-47), dropping game one, 2-1, and taking game two, 7-2, on Wednesday, July 10, at Bowling Green Ballpark. 

In game one, Bowling Green scored in the bottom of the first against Crawdads starter DJ McCarty. Xavier Isaac hammered a solo home run to right, giving the Hot Rods a 1-0 lead. 

The Crawdads responded in the top of the second, facing Hot Rods starter Duncan Davitt. Gleider Figuereo blasted a solo home run to tie the game, 1-1. In the top of the fourth, Quincy Scott doubled and advanced to third on a Marco Soto fly out. Marcus Smith singled, scoring Scott from third to give the Crawdads a 2-1 lead. 

The Hot Rods loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but failed to score, finalizing the game, 2-1. 

McCarty (1-4) earned the victory after 5.2 innings of work, surrendering one run on five hits and walking two while striking out six. Daviit (5-6) received the loss after tossing 5.1 innings, surrendering two runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out five. Rodriguez (1) earned the save after 0.1 scoreless inning, walking one and striking out one. 

In game two, Bolidos jumped ahead in the bottom of the first with Hickory starter Kohl Drake on the mound. Brayden Taylor singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Taylor moved to third on another wild pitch and scored on a Tre’ Morgan single to right, putting Bowling Green out in front 1-0. Cooper Kinney singled, advancing Morgan to third, putting runners at the corners.  Kinney was caught stealing second, allowing Morgan to score, extending the lead, 2-0. 

In the bottom of the second, Bowling Green added another run with Drake still on the hill. Ricardo Genoves doubled and scored on a Taylor triple, increasing the Bolidos lead, 3-0. 

Bowling Green tallied a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth against Drake. Genoves walked and came around to score on a Spikes two-run blast, lengthening the Bolidos lead to 5-0. Bowling Green added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, while Hickory plated two in the top of the seventh, ending in a 7-2 Bolidos win. 

Chandler Murphy (2-1) earned the win after spinning 6.0 scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out five. Drake (2-1) received the loss after tossing 4.1 innings, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six. 

Bowling Green and Hickory play game three of a six-game series Thursday at Bowling Green Ballpark with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 CT PM. The Hot Rods send out RHP Yoniel Curet (4-7, 3.95), while Hickory starts LHP Mitch Bratt (5-4, 3.52).

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BG Hot Rods smack five home runs, earns first sweep of the season

Taylor Smokes First Inning Homer, Hot Rods Win Finale 12-2

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Bowling Green, Kentucky – Brayden Taylor launched the first of five home runs to help the Bowling Green Hot Rods (10-4, 46-34) defeat the Rome Emperors (5-10, 41-38) 12-2 on Saturday at Bowling Green Ballpark. 

Bowling Green scored in the bottom of the first against Rome starter Beau Philip. Xavier Isaac walked and scored on a Taylor two-run blast to right, putting the Hot Rods ahead 2-0. Cooper Kinney reached first on a fielder's choice and Colton Ledbetter smacked a two-run home run to right, extending the lead, 4-0. 

Rome responded in the top of the fourth facing Hot Rods starter Roel Garcia. Ethan Workinger and Adam Zebrowski singled, putting runners at second and first. E.J. Exposito singled, scoring Workinger from second to cut the lead, 4-1. 

The Hot Rods added insurance in the bottom of the third facing Emperors reliever Rob Griswold. Ledbetter led off with a triple and was plated on a Cermak two-run homer to left. Tatem Levins rocketed a solo home run, pushing the Bowling Green lead, 7-1. 

The Emperors scratched across a run in the top of the sixth, still facing Garcia. Stephen Paolini doubled to right and was plated on a base hit from Bryson Worrell to make it 7-2.

In the bottom of the sixth, Bowling Green added two more runs against Rome reliever William Silva. Levins was hit by a pitch and Brock Jones hammered a two-run blast, increasing the lead, 9-2. 

The Hot Rods blew the game open in the bottom of the seventh with Silva still on the bump. Tre’ Morgan singled and scored on a Kinney double. Jones logged a base hit to score Kinney from second and make it 11-2 Hot Rods. 

Bowling Green scored the final run in the bottom of the eighth leading to a 12-2 win.

Garcia (6-4) earned the victory after spinning 6.0 innings, surrendering two runs on nine hits and striking out three. Philip (0-1) received the loss after 1.0 inning, allowing four runs on three hits, one walk, and one strikeout. 

Bowling Green takes the day off on Sunday and Monday before returning to Bowling Green Ballpark on Tuesday to face the Hickory Crawdads for a six-game series with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 pm CT.

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THURSDAY 7/4/24:  Ledbetter Blasts Two-Run Homer in Hot Rods 7-0 Win

Curet fans seven, Isaac smacks 13th homer of the season

BOWLING GREEN -- Colton Ledbetter crushed one of five homers hit by the Bowling Green Hot Rods (8-4, 44-34) in a 7-0 shutout win over the Rome Emperors (5-8, 41-36) on Thursday at Bowling Green Ballpark.

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FRIDAY 7/5/24:  Morgan Records Four-Hit Game in Hot Rods 3-2 Victory

Ledbetter and Levins notch multi-hit games, Cermak legs out triple

BOWLING GREEN -- Tre’ Morgan recorded his third four-hit game at the High-A level, as the Bowling Green Hot Rods (9-4, 45-34) defeated the Rome Emperors (5-9, 41-37) 3-2 on Friday at Bowling Green Ballpark.