Morgan’s 4-hit night boosts Hot Rods to home win
Published 9:30 pm Friday, July 5, 2024
- Bowling Green Hot Rods designated hitter Tre’ Morgan (25) bats in the Hot Rods’ 3-2 win over the Emperors at the Bowling Green Ballpark on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (Grace Ramey McDowell/grace.ramey@bgdailynews.com)
Tre’ Morgan recorded his third four-hit game at the High-A level as the Bowling Green Hot Rods beat the Rome Emperors 3-2 on Friday at Bowling Green Ballpark.
The Hot Rods (45-34 overall, 9-4 second half) scored in the bottom of the second inning facing Emperors starting pitcher Blake Burkhalter. Colton Ledbetter singled and stole second, putting a runner in scoring position. Ryan Cermak tripled, scoring Ledbetter from first to make it 1-0. Cermak was plated on a base hit by Tatem Levins, increasing the lead, 2-0.
Rome (41-37, 5-9) responded in the top of the third against Hot Rods starter Owen Wild. Nick Ward crushed a solo home run to right, cutting into the Bowling Green lead to 2-1.
The Emperors added another run in the top of the fourth with Wild still on the mound. E.J. Exposito walked and Stephen Paolini tripled, scoring Exposito from third to tie the game, 2-2.
Bowling Green broke the tie in the bottom of the sixth against Rome reliever Elison Joseph. Xavier Isaac reached second on a fielding error by Ward and Morgan singled, putting runners at the corners. Ledbetter singled to score Isaac and give the Hot Rods a 3-2 lead.
Hot Rods reliever Jack Hartman slammed the door, tossing two scoreless innings to finalize the game, 3-2.
Wild (3-1) earned the victory after six innings, allowing two runs on four hits, walking two and striking out four. Joseph (1-2) received the loss after two innings, surrendering one run (unearned) on three hits while striking out two. Hartman earned his second save after two scoreless innings and striking out four.
Bowling Green and Rome will play the finale of a six-game series Saturday at Bowling Green Ballpark with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m.. Bowling Green sends out right-hander Roel Garcia lll (5-4, 4.57), while righty Cade Kuehler (0-1, 24.00) gets the start for the Emperors.
