Kamren James shines as Hot Rods get 5-3 victory over Tourists

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) - Kamren James went 3-for-4, driving in three runs to help the Bowling Green Hot Rods (33-24, 63-54) take a 5-3 win over the Asheville Tourists (22-35, 48-70) on Friday night at McCormick Field in Asheville, North Carolina.

The Tourists opened the scoring in the bottom of the second against Hot Rods starter Duncan Davitt. Michael Sandle worked a one-out walk and advanced to second base on a groundout. Justin Williams doubled to left, scoring Sandle, giving Asheville a 1-0 lead.

Two runs came around to score in the top of the fifth against Asheville starter Miguel Ullola. Nick Schnell led off with a walk and James plated him with a double to left. Chandler Simpson collected a bunt single to put runners on the corners. After a pitching change for the Tourists, reliever Walker Brockhouse balked, allowing James to score, making it a 2-1 Hot Rods advantage.

The Hot Rods plated two more runs in the top of the sixth inning against Tourist pitcher Joey Mancini. After the first two hitters struck out, Hunter Haas and Schnell earned back-to-back walks. James singled to left, scoring Haas to make it 3-1. Simpson walked to load the bases and Shane Sasaki singled to left to score Schnell for a 4-1 Bowling Green lead.

James collected his final RBI hit in the top of the eighth, driving in Haas to take a four-run lead, 5-1. The Tourists attempted a comeback in the bottom of the eighth, scoring two runs of Hot Rods relieve Austin Vernon, including a solo homer by Kobe Kato. That would be all they could muster, as Haden Erbe entered the game and locked down the save for a 5-3 Hot Rods win.

Vernon (7-3) picked up the win, allowing two runs on three hits, walking one and striking out three over 3.0 innings. Ullola (3-8) was given the loss, surrendering two runs on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Erbe (2) picked up the save pitching 1.0 scoreless inning, allowing one hit and striking out three.

The Hot Rods and Tourists play the penultimate game of a six-game series on Saturday with a 5:05 PM CT first pitch. Bowling Green sends Ian Seymour (0-0, 0.00) to the mound against Asheville RHP Alex Santos (3-6, 6.99).