[Recap provided by Tom Gautier of the Bowling Green Hot Rods]
Bowling Green, KY – Starting pitcher Kyle Lobstein took a no-hitter into the seventh and Ryan Wiegand homered twice to lead the Hot Rods past the Clinton LumberKings, 7-2, to begin a three-game series on Tuesday night at Bowling Green Ballpark. The victory improves the Hot Rods to 5-3 on their 13-game home stand and gives them a win in their first meeting with a Western Division team in 2010.
Before we get to Lobstein, the Hot Rods spotted him a big early lead, thanks mainly to Wiegand. With one out and one on in the first inning, the Hot Rods first baseman slugged a hanging curve ball over the right field wall to give the Hot Rods a 2-0 lead. The homer was his third of the season, his first since he went deep in Lake County on May 12 covering a span of 63 at-bats.
Bowling Green added solo runs in the second and third thanks to back-to-back doubles from Robi Estrada and Ty Morrison in the second. Those hits were followed up by a sacrifice fly from Gabe Cohen to bump the lead to 4-0 in the third inning.
Wiegand would strike again in the bottom of the fourth. Estrada and Morrison each singled to right field to begin the inning. A sacrifice bunt would push them to second and third before Tyler Bortnick flew out to left field for the second out of the inning. With two down Wiegand connected again, hammering a long home run over the video board in right field to break the game open at 7-0.
This is where the story turned in favor of Lobstein. The lefty, coming off a career-high six walks in his last outing, was flat out dazzling against Clinton. He allowed just one base runner, a first-inning walk, through the first three frames. After Julio Cedeno allowed a runner to reach on an error in the fourth, Lobstein settled in to retire the next eight men he faced through six innings.
The lefty was working on a no-hitter to that point heading into the top of the seventh. Unfortunately, his no-hitter was lost when Vinnie Catricala doubled into the left field corner. After a walk, Lobstein’s shutout was lost on a double by James Jones.
Lobstein gave way to Deivis Mavarez at that point, who worked out of the jam in the seventh inning without further damage. Lobstein ended up working six-plus innings, allowing one run on just a pair of hits and two walks. He added five strikeouts and ended up working four perfect innings on the night to pick up his second win of the season.
The LumberKings ended up getting a run off of Mavarez in the ninth on a lead-off home run from James Jones before the righty closed the door for his second save of the season.
Wiegand ended the night going 2-4 with two homers and five RBI. He is the first Hot Rod in 2010 with a multi-homer game. He’s the first Hot Rod to do it since Kyeong Kang went deep twice on August 19, 2009 at Greensboro, NC. His five RBI night also sets a new franchise record.
Joining Wiegand in the 11-hit attack were Estrada and Morrison, who combined to go 5-8 with a triple, two doubles, three runs, and an RBI from the eighth and ninth slots in the line-up. Outfielder Gabe Cohen picked up his first RBI as a Hot Rod in his first game since being recalled from Florida to replace the injured Dustin Biell. Kyle Spraker added two hits, giving him five in his last two games.
The Hot Rods and LumberKings continue the series on Wednesday night at 7:05 PM. RHP Alexander Colome (4-3, 1.91) looks to bounce back from a loss at he takes on LHP Jon Hesketh (2-4, 5.80). Wednesday is another game to benefit Warren County Parks and Recreation. When fans purchase a $10 Box Seat ticket using the promotional code “WCPARKS” a portion of ticket proceeds will go to the rebuilding efforts for Warren County parks damaged in May flooding. The promotional code is valid at www.bghotrods.com, at the Hot Rods Ticket Office, and by phone at 270.901.2121.
You can follow the game with Tom Gauthier and Hank Fuerst beginning at 6:50 PM on 1340 AM WBGN and www.bghotrods.com.
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