Grasshoppers deal 6-1 loss to Hot Rods

Published 2:50 pm Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Mac Horvath logged three hits and drove in the lone run for the Bowling Green Hot Rods in a 6-1 loss to the Greensboro Grasshoppers on Wednesday at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Greensboro (13-4) plated the first runs of the game in the top of the first inning against Bowling Green starter Garret Edwards. With one out, Omar Alfonzo singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. One out later, Javier Rivas lifted a homer to left, giving Greensboro a 2-0 lead.

The Grasshoppers added to their lead in the top of the second with Edwards still on the mound. Jesus Castillo reached base to start the inning on a throwing error by Adrian Santana. Shalin Polanco laid down a sacrifice bunt and a throwing error by Daniel Vellojin allowed Castillo to score. Polanco stole third and came in to score on a Kalae Harrison sacrifice fly, making it a 4-0 lead for the Grasshoppers.

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Two more runs came around to score in the top of the sixth inning against TJ Fondtain on another two-run homer from Rivas.

Bowling Green (8-9) scored its lone run in the bottom of the sixth on a Horvath RBI double, but  the Hot Rods were held scoreless the rest of the way, losing to Greensboro 6-1.

Greensboro’s Garrett McMillan (3-0) picked up the win, tossing 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run on six hits while walking one and striking out two. Edwards (2-1) took the loss, hurling five innings, surrendering four runs (two earned) on two hits with one walk and three strikeouts.

The Hot Rods and Grasshoppers play the third game of a six-game series on Thursday at 6:35 p.m. at Bowling Green Ballpark. The Hot Rods will send out right-hander Gary Gill Hill (1-0, 2.40) against Grasshoppers righty Khristian Curtis (0-1, 19.06).