Parra powers Hot Rods over Drive
Published 9:44 pm Wednesday, May 17, 2023
Jeffry Parra crushed a three-run homer in the top of the seventh inning, accounting for all the offense for the Bowling Green Hot Rods in their 3-2 victory over the Greenville Drive on Wednesday night at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C.
The Drive (15-19) scored the first runs of the game in the bottom of the fifth against Hot Rods starter Patrick Wicklander. Eduardo Lopez and Ronald Rosario singled, while Max Ferguson worked a walk to load the bases. Brainer Bonaci plated Lopez on an infield single that put Greenville up 1-0. Marcelo Mayer drove in Rosario from third on a sacrifice fly to increase the lead 2-0.
Bowling Green (18-15) entered the scoring column in the top of the seventh off Greenville reliever Maceo Campbell. Bob Seymour and Nick Schnell worked walks to put runners on first and second. Parra blasted a three-run homer over the left-field wall to collect a 3-2 lead for the Hot Rods.
The Greenville offense was shut down in the bottom of the ninth by Bowling Green reliever Antonio Jimenez, as the Hot Rods were able to hold on to a 3-2 win.
Alfredo Zarraga (1-0) collected the win, striking out three over two perfect frames. Campbell (0-1) picked up the loss, allowing three runs on a home run, two walks, and a strikeout over one inning. Jimenez earned the save for his two perfect innings, while striking out two.
Bowling Green and Greenville play game three of a six-game series on Thursday with first pitch set for 6:05 p.m. CT. The Hot Rods are starting right-hander J.J. Goss (1-1, 4.78), while Greenville sends out righty Juan Daniel Encarnacion (2-1, 6.84).