Kinney Homers Again in Bowling Green’s 5-2 Victory
Bowling Green, Kentucky – In back-to-back games, Cooper Kinney blasted a home run to lead the Bowling Green Hot Rods (36-29) to a 5-2 win over the Hickory Crawdads (27-38) on Wednesday from L.P. Frans Stadium.
The Hot Rods scored in the top of the first against Crawdads starter Ryan Lobus. Brayden Taylor walked and Tre’ Morgan reached first on a fielding error, putting runners at second and first. Ryan Cermak blasted a three-run home run, giving Bowling Green a 3-0 lead.
Hickory responded in the bottom of the second, facing Hot Rods starter Roel Garcia. Konner Piotto singled and crossed home on a Ben Blackwell double to left. Devin Hurdle plated Blackwell from second on a single, cutting into lead, 3-2.
Bowling Green pushed the lead against Lobus in the top of the third. Morgan reached on an infield single and came across to score on a Kinney two-run homer, increasing the lead, 5-2.
In the bottom of the ninth, Jake Christianson sat down the Crawdads lineup in order to end the game, 5-2.
Garcia (5-3) earned the win, letting up two runs on five hits with a walk and a strikeout over 5.0 frames. Lobus (3-3) took the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) on three hits with a walk and five strikeouts. Christianson (2) notched the save with 2.0 perfect innings.
The Hot Rods and Crawdads play game three of a six-game series on Thursday with first pitch set for 6:00 PM CT. Bowling Green is set to start RHP Duncan Davitt (5-4, 3.11), while Hickory rolls out LHP Mitch Bratt (3-3, 4.60).
