Hot Rods fall to Hub City despite Summerhill’s slam
Published 11:02 pm Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Bowling Green Hot Rods centerfielder Ryan Cermak (27) rounds third base in the Hot Rods’ 8-2 win over the Jersey Shore BlueClaws at Bowling Green Ballpark on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.
GRACE MCDOWELL / BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS
(Grace McDowell)
The Tampa Bay Rays’ No. 20 prospect Brendan Summerhill lifted a second-inning grand slam, but the Bowling Green Hot Rods fell short in a 7-5 defeat to the Hub City Spartanburgers on Wednesday night at Bowling Green Ballpark.
The Spartanburgers (47-56 overall, 13-24 second half) struck early with three runs against Hot Rods starting pitcher Kaleb Corbett in the top of the first inning. Hub City strung together four consecutive hits to open the game. Gleider Figuero logged a run-scoring single, Maxton Martin posted an RBI groundout and a passed ball gave the visitors a 3-0 advantage.
Bowling Green (72-31, 25-13) flipped the script with four runs in the bottom of the second inning against Hub City starting pitcher A.J. Russell. Narciso Polanco singled, Ryan McCoy walked and Noah Myers was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Summerhill spiked a go-ahead grand slam to right-center field for a 4-3 Hot Rods lead.
The Hot Rods tagged another run in the bottom of the third inning. Ryan Cermak walked, swiped second and came around to score on a Hub City fielding error for a 5-3 Bowling Green margin.
Hub City scored one run against reliever Cade Citelli in the top of the fourth. Martin slugged a solo home run to right-center field, bringing the Spartanburgers within one.
The visitors took a 6-5 lead with two runs in the top of the fifth inning against relief arm Jacob Hartlaub. Chandler Pollard walked, Paxton Kling reached on a fielder’s choice and Casey Cook worked a walk to load the bases. Luke Hanson evened the game with an RBI groundout, Figuero knocked in the go-ahead run with a single to right field.
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The Spartanburgers tallied another run in the top of the eighth against reliever Noah Beal. Martin tagged a leadoff home run to right field for a 7-5 Hub City margin.
Right-hander Luimy Muñoz kept Bowling Green off the board in the bottom of the ninth, wrapping up a 7-5 final score.
Anthony Susac (5-2) delivered the win with 2 2/3 scoreless frames, allowing just one hit with two strikeouts. Hartlaub (0-1) took the loss, giving up two runs on two hits, two walks with two strikeouts mixed in. Muñoz earned the save with a hitless ninth inning, walking one batter and fanning one.
The Hot Rods return to the diamond on Thursday night for Game 3 of this six-game series. Bowling Green will send right-hander Trevor Harrison (2-1, 5.19) to the mound, Hub City will open with righty Kamdyn Perry (0-3, 10.36) for a 6:35 p.m. first pitch at Bowling Green Ballpark.
