Renegades rampage past Hot Rods for 14-2 win

Published 11:52 pm Saturday, April 6, 2024

Hot Rods right fielder Jhon Diaz (1) bats in the Hot Rods’ season opener 6-1 win against the Hudson Valley Renegades at the Bowling Green Ballpark in Bowling Green, Ky., on Friday, April 5, 2024. (Grace Ramey/grace.ramey@bgdailynews.com)

Alex Cook struck out six batters over four innings, but the Bowling Green Hot Rods’ bats went cold in a 14-2 loss to the Hudson Valley Renegades on Saturday at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Hudson Valley (1-1) began the scoring off Cook in the top of the first inning with a leadoff solo home run by Jared Serna, putting the Renegades up 1-0.

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Bowling Green (1-1) answered back in the bottom of the second against Renegades starter Kyle Carr. Tatem Levins walked, Brock Jones doubled and Blake Robertson walked to load the bases. Jhon Diaz worked a walk, scoring Levins to tie the game, 1-1. A passed ball by catcher Omar Martinez allowed Jones to score from third and put Bowling Green up, 2-1.

In the top of the third, Serna walked and Jesus Rodriguez singled to put runners on the corners. Martinez knocked a single to right, moving Rodriguez to third and scoring Serna to make it 2-2. Garrett Martin put the Renegades up 3-2, scoring Martinez on an RBI single.

The Renegades opened it up to a 14-2 lead off Hot Rods relievers Jonny Cuevas and Jeff Hakanson after scoring a combined 11 runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. The 11 runs were highlighted by a solo homer from Martinez in the fifth, and two-run blast by Rafael Flores in the seventh.

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The Hot Rods went scoreless the rest of the way, losing by a final score of 14-2.

Cook (0-1) took the loss, striking out six and allowing three runs on five hits and two walks over four frames. Cuevas allowed five runs (three earned) on four hits and a walk while recording two outs. Hakanson tossed two innings, letting up six runs (five earned) on four hits, two walks and a strikeout. Nate Dahle picked up a strikeout over 1 1/3 scoreless innings and Sandy Gaston threw a scoreless ninth.

Bowling Green and Hudson Valley play the rubber match of a three-game series on Sunday with first pitch set for 1:05 p.m. Right-hander Yoniel Curet (0-0, 0.00) starts for the Hot Rods and righty Cam Schlittler (0-0, 0.00) starts for the Renegades.