Hot Rods Win First-Half Eastern Division Title
Published on June 19, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Bowling Green Hot Rods News Release
South Bend, IN - Cody Rogers laced a three-run ninth-inning double on Sunday, sending the Hot Rods to the first-half Eastern Division Championship with a 6-4 come-from-behind win over the South Bend Silver Hawks (34-35). The victory improves the Hot Rods to 41-29, 1.5 games ahead of playoff-bound Lansing heading into the All-Star Break on Monday.
The Hot Rods entered the ninth inning trailing 4-2 after South Bend took advantage of a couple of Hot Rods miscues to scored three runs in the eighth inning. The Hot Rods ninth was helped out by an error to begin the frame on a groundball by Derek Dietrich. A single by Julio Cedeno put the tying runs on base, and marked the start of the fun for Bowling Green.
With nobody out, Robby Price laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt against reliever Blake Cooper (0-2) to advance the runners to second and third. A sacrifice fly from Nick Schwaner followed to cut the deficit to 4-3.
Cooper lasted one more batter, walking Luke Bailey before leaving for Chris Odegaard. The new pitcher issued a free pass to Kevin Kiermaier, loading the bases for Rogers. The outfielder worked the count full before driving a double to the gap to score three runs and complete the four-run rally.
Chris Rearick earned the win for Bowling Green, wrapping up the first half with a 4-1 record. He allowed three runs (two earned) in the bottom of the eighth, one scoring on a passed ball before a sac fly and a single erased a 2-1 Hot Rods lead entering the frame.
Bowling Green had built an early lead against starter J.R. Bradley, plating two runs in the second on a single from Bailey and a sac fly from Rogers. After that frame, however, Bradley allowed just one base runner - a Schwaner single - before leaving the game after the sixth inning.
Victor Mateo took a no-decision for the Hot Rods after allowing one run over five innings. He surrendered six hits to go along with five strikeouts. The only run that scored against him came on a wild pitch as he held the Hawks hitless with eight at-bats with runners in scoring position.
Austin Hubbard closed the door in the ninth to earn his fifth save. Nate Garcia pitched two scoreless innings in his final outing of the first half.
Rogers put an exclamation point on his first half with a four-RBI day, going 1-4 with his clutch double and a sac fly. He finished the first half leading the Midwest League with 54 runs. Schwaner ends the first half on a four-game hitting streak, going 2-3 with a double, a sac fly, an RBI, and a run on Sunday.
Hot Rods all-star infielders Derek Dietrich and Phil Wunderlich and pitchers Eliazer Suero and C.J. Riefenhauser now head to Davenport, IA, for the Midwest League All-Star Game on Tuesday night. Dietrich will participate in the Home Run Derby on Monday before starting at shortstop on Tuesday.
The Hot Rods now enter the midseason All-Star Break beginning Monday and carrying through Thursday. They will start the second half of the season with a three-game set on Friday, June 24 against the Dayton Dragons, Class A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The series begins with Ladies Night and a red Hot Rods T-shirt giveaway courtesy of Daymar College. For a complete list of promotions for the second half, visit www.bghotrods.com.
Midwest League Stories from June 19, 2011
- Lugnuts Drop Dragons, Reach Playoffs Via Tiebreaker - Lansing Lugnuts
- Kernels held to three hits in 4-1 loss to Wisconsin - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Snappers Take Series with 5-1 Win - Burlington Bees
- Chiefs Lose 7th Straight Sunday - Peoria Chiefs
- Wisconsin closes out first half with a win - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Bandits finish first half finale with sweep - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Cates, Powers Lead TinCaps to 5-0 Win - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Four Errors Foil Loons Bid for Playoffs - Great Lakes Loons
- 13-Inning Marathon Ends with 10-5 Loss - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Hot Rods Win First-Half Eastern Division Title - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Captains Snap Skid, Explode for 10-5 Win in 13 Innings - Lake County Captains
- Dragons Fall to Lugnuts, 8-2 - Dayton Dragons
- Silver Hawks Finish Half with Tough Loss - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Cougars Blanked by Clinton in Finale - Kane County Cougars
- Fernandez Goes Seven Scoreless Innings Leading to LumberKings 1-0 Win over Cougars - Clinton LumberKings
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