Isaac and Ledbetter’s Homers Not Enough in Hot Rods 6-3 Loss
Wappingers Falls, New York – Xavier Isaac and Colton Ledbetter each smacked solo home runs, but the Bowling Green Hot Rods (12-9) dropped the series finale to the Hudson Valley Renegades (12-8) 6-3 on Sunday from Heritage Financial Park.
Bowling Green started off strong with a run in the top of the first against Hudson Valley starter Cam Schlittler. Isaac blasted a solo homer to left, putting the Hot Rods up 1-0. In the top of the second, Ledbetter ripped a solo homer to right to extend the lead, 2-0.
The Renegades responded in the bottom of the second off Hot Rods starter Trevor Martin. Jesus Rodriguez led-off with a double and stole third to put a runner in scoring position. Josh Moylan grounded out to second to score Rodriguez and cut the deficit, 2-1. Kyle Battle ripped a homer to left off Martin in the bottom of the third, tying the game, 2-2.
In the bottom of the fourth, Cole Gabrielson singled and moved up to second on a throwing error by third baseman Brayden Taylor. Battle notched a base hit to score Gabrielson and move the score, 3-2. Jared Serna ripped a double to left, plating Battle to make it a 4-2 ballgame.
The Hot Rods earned another run in the top of the seventh off Renegades reliever Hueston Morrill. Isaac led-off with a single and moved up to second on a balk. Cooper Kinney logged a base hit to left, scoring Isaac to make it 4-3.
Hudson Valley extended their lead with two runs in the eighth inning against Bowling Green reliever JJ Goss and closed out the Hot Rods in the ninth to win, 6-3.
Schlittler (3-0) earned the win, letting up two runs on two hits and seven strikeouts over 6.0 innings. Martin (2-1) took the loss, allowing four runs on seven hits, two walks, and one strikeout over 3.2 frames. Joel Valdez (1) locked down the save, letting up a hit in a scoreless ninth.
Bowling Green has a day off on Monday before traveling to ShoreTown Ballpark for a six-game series against the Jersey Shore BlueClaws. First pitch is set for Tuesday at 5:35 PM CT.
