Hot Rods earn rain-shortened road win
Published 10:00 pm Thursday, June 18, 2026
Bowling Green’s Jose Urbina pitches during the Hotrods game against Brooklyn on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Bowling Green Ballpark in Bowling Green, Ky. (Caleb Lowndes / Daily News) (Caleb Lowndes)
Jose Urbina tied his career-high with nine strikeouts, leading the Bowling Green Hot Rods to a rain-shortened, 3-2 victory to cap off the South Atlantic League first half over the Asheville Tourists on Thursday at HomeTrust Park in Asheville, North Carolina.
The Hot Rods (47-18) jumped onto the scoreboard in the top of the first inning against Tourists starting pitcher Kellan Oakes. Theo Gillen and Caden Bodine led off with singles, and Nathan Flewelling walked to load the bases. One out later, Narciso Polanco drove in two runs on a base hit to make it a 2-0 Hot Rods lead.
Asheville (17-48) responded with a run in the bottom of the first against Urbina. Justin Thomas Jr. led off with a walk and Nehomar Ochoa Jr. singled to center, putting runners on the corners. Chase Call lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Thomas to make it a 2-1 game.
Another run came around to score in the top of the fourth for the Hot Rods against Tourists reliever Jordan Carr. Marshall Toole legged out an infield single and Jose Perez advanced him to second with a groundout. Juanfel Peguero knocked a base hit to shallow center, putting runners on the corners. A wild pitch from Carr scored Toole, making it a 3-1 Hot Rods lead.
The Tourists scored a run against Urbina in the bottom of the fifth on a solo homer from Call to pull within a run at 3-2.
Entering the top of the sixth, rain set in and the tarp was put on the field. Impending weather forced the two teams into a rain-shortened game, ending in a 3-2 Hot Rods victory.
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Urbina (4-3) picked up the win, tossing five innings, allowing two runs on six hits while walking two and striking out nine. Oakes (0-1) was given the loss, surrendering two runs on three hits, walking two and striking out one while recording just two outs.
The Hot Rods and the Tourists play the fourth game of a six-game series, starting the second half, on Friday with a 5:35 p.m. CT pitch at HomeTrust Park. Bowling Green will send out right-hander Jacob Kisting (4-0, 1.73) to the mound against Asheville righty Parker Smith (3-3, 6.79).
