BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – A three-RBI performance from Tony Santa Maria and a leadoff home run by Nathan Flewelling weren’t enough as the Bowling Green Hot Rods saw their nine-game winning streak come to an end with a 14-6 loss to the Asheville Tourists on Sunday afternoon at Bowling Green Ballpark.
Asheville wasted little time getting on the board. Justin Thomas Jr. drew a leadoff walk in the first inning, stole second, advanced to third on a balk, and scored on Caden Powell’s sacrifice fly to give the Tourists an early 1-0 lead.
The Hot Rods answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Flewelling launched the first pitch he saw over the right-field wall to even the score. After Aidan Smith reached on an error and stole second, Narciso Polanco lined an RBI single to put Bowling Green in front 2-1.
The Tourists responded with two runs in the second to reclaim the lead. Alejandro Nuñez tied the game with an RBI single before coming around to score on a Bowling Green throwing error, making it 3-2.
Asheville continued to build momentum in the third. Powell singled with two outs before Anthony Huezo connected on a two-run homer to stretch the advantage to 5-2.
The visitors added another run in the fourth when John Garcia drove in Zach Daudet with a groundout after Daudet worked a walk and stole two bases.
Asheville extended its lead again in the fifth. Kyle Walker singled and Daudet reached on another walk before Freuddy Batista ripped a two-run double to left, pushing the score to 8-2.
The game broke open in the seventh. Batista delivered a two-run single, and Xavier Neyens followed with a three-run home run as the Tourists scored five times in the inning to take a commanding 13-2 lead.
Bowling Green showed some life in the bottom of the seventh. Aidan Smith singled, Connor Hujsak and Polanco each drew walks, and Santa Maria cleared the bases with a three-run double into left field to trim the deficit to 13-5.
Asheville added one final run in the ninth when Garcia hit a solo homer to left.
The Hot Rods answered with one swing in the bottom of the inning as Smith blasted a solo home run to center, but the comeback ended there as Asheville secured the 14-6 victory.
Howard earned the win after allowing two runs, one earned, across five innings while striking out six. Kaleb Corbett took the loss for Bowling Green after surrendering five runs, four earned, over three innings.
Despite the loss, Santa Maria finished with three RBIs, Flewelling homered to begin the game, and Smith reached base three times while adding a home run, a stolen base, and two runs scored.
Bowling Green will look to begin a new streak Tuesday when it opens a six-game road series against the Greensboro Grasshoppers. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT.
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