​SPARTANBURG, S.C. — The Spartanburgers failed to grab an early lead in the first three games of the week against the Hot Rods, but that script flipped Friday night. A pair of home runs propelled Hub City to a 2-0 advantage, yet Bowling Green answered in the final two innings to pull out a 4-2 victory. The game was delayed two hours due to rain in the area, and MiLB rules required that any game starting after 9:00 p.m. be shortened to seven innings; Joe Adametz still delivered the first pitch at 9:04.
Adametz came out sharp after the long wait, the left-hander striking out the first two batters and quieting the side in order in the opening frame. He allowed leadoff singles in the second and third, but he managed to navigate through those threats. Kartsonis, the Bowling Green starter, retired his first four batters in order, and it wasn’t until the second inning that Gleider Figuereo changed the complexion of the contest with a solo homer to right field. At first, the ball bounced back into play, and it appeared to be a single, but Figuereo was eventually credited with the round-tripper. Kartsonis regrouped, finishing the second and working a clean third.
In the fourth inning, the Spartanburgers widened their lead when Hector Osorio launched a ball into the Hub City bullpen beyond right field. Osorio has now homered in back-to-back games, giving the hosts a 2-0 cushion. The Spartanburgers’ defense also helped Adametz out, turning double plays in both the fourth and fifth frames. Hub City’s Theo Hardy notched the team’s third hit in the bottom of the fifth, but he was stranded on first.
With one out in the top of the sixth, Bowling Green mounted a rally against Adametz. Narciso Polanco singled on a bunt, then scored on Connor Hujsak’s triple to the right-center field wall. Adametz then walked Tony Santa Maria. The inning’s final action for the Spartanburgers’ starter came as Noah Myers lofted a sacrifice fly to center, tying the game at 2-2. Luke Savage came on to record the final out of the frame.
Kartsonas retired the side in order in the bottom of the sixth. Savage, who started the seventh for Bowling Green, returned to the hill for the top of the inning. Pinch-hitter Ryan McCoy walked and stole second to ignite the frame. Savage set down the next two batters, but Aidan Smith battled to a two-strike count before lifting a towering fastball over the right-field fence for what proved to be the decisive blow, giving the Hot Rods a 4-2 edge. Kartsonas closed the game with three straight outs in the bottom of the seventh.
Looking ahead, the Spartanburgers will attempt to halt a five-game skid on Saturday afternoon. AJ Russell will take the mound for Hub City (1-1, 3.12 ERA) against Bowling Green’s Trevor Harrison (1-1, 5.29 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 4:35 p.m. ET.
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