Garcia Tosses Quality Start in Hot Rods 1-0 Loss

Bowling Green, Kentucky – Roel Garcia tied a season-high with 6.0 innings, but the Bowling Green Hot Rods (2-2, 38-32) were held to four hits in a 1-0 shutout loss to the Asheville Tourists (3-1, 29-36) on Tuesday at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Asheville scored first in the top of the fifth facing Garcia. Jackson Loftin singled and stole second to put a runner in scoring position. Austin Deming singled to left, plating Loftin to give the Tourists a 1-0 lead.

Bowling Green threatened in the ninth against Asheville reliever Railin Perez. Tre’ Morgan walked to lead off the inning and moved up to second on a Cooper Kinney ground out. Perez slammed the door the rest of the way, sealing the Asheville victory, 1-0.

Asheville starter Nic Swanson (2-4) earned the victory after 5.0 scoreless innings of work, surrendering three hits and walking two with four strikeouts. Garcia (5-4) received the loss after 6.0 innings, allowing six hits and one run on a walk and four strikeouts. Perez (3) earned the save after spinning a scoreless ninth inning and walking one.

The Hot Rods and Tourists square off Wednesday for game two of a six-game series with first pitch set for 6:35 pm CT from Bowling Green Ballpark. RHP Duncan Davitt (5-5, 2.97) gets the start for Bowling Green, While Asheville sends out RHP Edinson Batista (5-2, 5.55).