Another Day, Another Shutout
July 9, 2022 - South Atlantic League (SAL)
Bowling Green Hot Rods News Release
For the second time this week, and third time this season, the Bowling Green Hot Rods shut out the Hickory Crawdads. Austin Vernon struck out five in his debut without allowing a hit and Kyle Whitten retired the final six batters in order with two strikeouts. Every Hot Rods hitter reached base at least once, including a two-double game from Diego Infante to extend his league-best hit streak to 12-straight games. Kyle Manzardo recorded two hits as well, reaching base for the 52nd time over the last 27 games.
Yesterday's Notes... Infante's double in the third extended his hit-streak to 12 games...Manzardo extended his on-base streak to 27 games... Auer's fourth-inning homer was his first at Bowling Green Ballpark and his second homer with BG... Everyone in the Hot Rods lineup reached base at least once... After stints in Low-A Charleston and Double-A Montgomery, Ramirez recorded his first hit for the Hot Rods since April 29 in Brooklyn... BG shut out the Crawdads for the third time this season... It was the Hot Rods' second shutout in three days... Bowling Green has seven shutouts this season... The victory clinched the series victory against Hickory and extended BG's win streak to five straight... The Hot Rods have won two of the three series against Hickory this season...
We Meet Again... Bowing Green starts off their second-half home schedule the same way they ended the first half, with the second place Hickory Crawdads. Hickory enters the series three games behind Bowling Green in second place. BG is 8-4 against the Crawdads this season, with a series split in June and a 5-1 series victory in Hickory back in April.
Can't Keep him off the Bases... Kyle Manzardo reached base in every game he played in the month of June, giving him the second-longest active on-base streak in the South Atlantic League at 27. It is the longest streak by any Hot Rods player this season, and tied for third-longest overall in the SAL. Manzardo is 29-97 in this stretch, slashing .299/.430/.515 with six doubles and five home runs. He has also driven in 22 runs and walked 22 times.
Clinched!... BG finished the first half leading their division for the third time in club history, clinching a playoff spot with 2018's Midwest League Champions and again in 2011. (there were no halves in 2021). The 2011 team finished the first leg of the season with a 41-29 record while the 2018 Hot Rods set a franchise record with 47 wins in the first half and a record of 47-22. The 2022 club became the third Hot Rods team to the 40-win mark in a half.
Prepared for the Postseason... The 2022 Playoff structure looks a little different than last season's "High-A East" setup. The season is split into two halves, with the first-half ending after games on June 23. Each division's team with the best record will earn a berth, with the divisional first and second half champions facing one another in a three-game series in the postseason. The winners of those series will be crowned division champions, with the two remaining teams set to face one another in a three-game championship series. The Hot Rods clinched a playoff spot after winning the South Division in the first half. They will be joined by the first half North Division Winners in the Aberdeen IronBirds.
Monty is the Best of the Month... Mason Montgomery added another accolade to a stellar 2022 season, earning the Rays Minor League Pitcher of the Month for the month of June. starting five games for the second-consecutive month, Montgomery posted his lowest monthly ERA since April at 1.66 in 21.2 frames, striking out 37 with 15 hits and eight walks allowed. He has started more games than all but two SAL hurlers and is at the top of the league with a 1.95 ERA and 114 strikeouts this season.
South Atlantic League Stories from July 9, 2022
- Crawdads No-Hit Hot Rods 4-0 - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- The Drive Wins the Fifth Game of the Series - Greenville Drive
- Renegades Defeat Jersey Shore - Hudson Valley Renegades
- Painter Sharp But BlueClaws Fall 6-2 on Saturday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Cyclones Fall to Aberdeen 7-5 on Saturday Night - Brooklyn Cyclones
- Rome Roughs up Tourists for Sixth Straight - Rome Emperors
- Winston-Salem Blanks Wilmington 5-0 - Winston-Salem Dash
- Skid Hits Six After Lifeless 11-0 Loss to Rome - Asheville Tourists
- Another Day, Another Shutout - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- HVR Game Notes - July 9, 2022 - Hudson Valley Renegades
- Hoppers Slug out Marvel-Ous 14-2 Victory over Drive - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Braves Ride Offensive Surge to Fifth Straight Win - Rome Emperors
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