Bowling Green downs Drive in series opener

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Émilien Pitre drove in three runs, including a solo homer in the first inning, and Bowling Green starter Jack Kartsonas worked six strong innings as the Hot Rods defeated the Greenville Drive, 5-1, Tuesday night in the opener of a six-game series at Fluor Field at the West End.

Bowling Green (23-11) struck for two runs in the first inning and never trailed, while Greenville (13-20) was held to one run despite collecting six hits and putting multiple runners in scoring position throughout the night.

Adrian Santana opened the game with a single to right-center off Greenville starter Kyson Witherspoon, then quickly stole second and third. Theo Gillen brought him home with a sacrifice fly to left field, giving the Hot Rods an immediate 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Pitre lifted a 2-2 pitch over the wall in left-center for his first home run of the season, extending the lead to 2-0.

Greenville had an early chance to answer in the bottom half of the inning. Justin Gonzales drew a leadoff walk and Isaiah Jackson followed with a double to left-center, putting two runners in scoring position with one out. Kartsonas escaped the threat, however, striking out Jack Winnay looking and Mason White swinging to preserve the two-run lead.

The Drive continued to create traffic against Kartsonas but struggled to deliver the timely hit. Adonys Guzman was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch in the second inning, but Antonio Anderson grounded out to end the inning. White singled in the fourth and advanced on a throwing error by Kartsonas during a pickoff attempt, but Greenville again came away empty.

Bowling Green added to its lead in the fifth. Connor Hujsak led off with a single, stole second and moved to third on a groundout before J.D. Gonzalez singled through the right side to score him. Santana later flew out, but Gillen walked, Nathan Flewelling walked and Pitre followed with a bases-loaded walk to make it 4-0.

With the bases still loaded and two outs, Ben Hansen entered in relief of Witherspoon and ended the inning by striking out Tony Santa Maria, keeping the Drive within four.

Greenville broke through in the bottom of the fifth. Gonzales was hit by a pitch with two outs and advanced to second on a passed ball. Yoeilin Cespedes then lined a single to center field, scoring Gonzales and cutting the deficit to 4-1. The RBI was Cespedes’ 23rd of the season.

Kartsonas limited the damage from there. The Bowling Green right-hander allowed four hits and one unearned run over six innings, walking two and striking out seven. He improved to 2-0.