Bortnick Homers In Extra-innings Thriller
August 14, 2010 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Bowling Green Hot Rods News Release
Bowling Green, KY - Tyler Bortnick smashed a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth to send the Hot Rods and Great Lakes Loons into extra-innings on Saturday night. Great Lakes would ultimately prevail, however, scoring five runs in the top of the 11th inning to steal a 10-5 series-opening win. Despite the loss, the Hot Rods remain just four games out of the playoff chase behind the Lansing Lugnuts and West Michigan Whitecaps.
Bortnick's ninth inning blast capped off a wild night. The Hot Rods jumped on the board first, grabbing four runs in the bottom of the second. Dave Wendt drove in the first with an RBI double followed by a run-scoring single by Dustin Biell, an RBI bounce-out from Brett Nommensen, and a two-out single by Mark Thomas.
Great Lakes got a run back in the fifth inning against Wilking Rodriguez, who lasted 4.1 frames but allowed just one run on two hits. The Loons tacked on two more in the seventh against new pitcher Merrill Kelly thanks to a trio of Hot Rods errors. They then took their first lead in the eighth on a two-run homer by Blake Smith to put the Loons on top 5-4.
In the ninth, though, the Hot Rods received Bortnick's big hit. Facing closer Luis Vasquez, Bortnick hammered a fastball onto Kentucky Street to tie the game at 5-5. The homer was Bortnick's eighth of the season and sent the game into extra-innings.
Extras would not be good for Bowling Green, as Great Lakes scored five runs in the eleventh against Jake Sullivan. He allowed a double to Brian Ruggiano before giving up a two-out grand slam to Rafael Ynoa to put the game out of reach.
Bowling Green now turns to Jason McEachern (4-10, 5.27) in the middle game of the series on Sunday afternoon. He'll face RHP Edwin Contreras (3-0, 3.44) with first pitch coming up at 2:05 PM. The first 1,000 fans receive a one-of-a-kind Hot Rods Comic Book courtesy of Bellewood Presbyterian Homes for Children. Gates open at 12:30 PM for Season Ticket Holders, 1 PM for the general public.
You can listen to the game on the radio with Tom Gauthier and Hank Fuerst beginning at 1:50 PM on 1340 WBGN and www.bghotrods.com.
Midwest League Stories from August 14, 2010
- Two-run 11th leads Bandits to win in extras - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Bortnick Homers In Extra-innings Thriller - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Kernels fall to Timber Rattlers, 6-5, in 11 innings - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Bandits nip Bees in front of 2,466 - Burlington Bees
- Chiefs Win 4-3 Saturday - Peoria Chiefs
- Rattlers Hunt Down An Extra Inning Win - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Late Errors Hand Game to Snappers - Clinton LumberKings
- Snappers Knotted in Wild Card with Win - Beloit Sky Carp
- Winning Streak Reaches 10 With 21-hit Blowout - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Winning Streak Reaches 10 With 21-hit Blowout - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Williams, TinCaps outslug Lugnuts, 8-2 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Hawks Routed in Opener with Whitecaps - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Rodriguez Lifts Dragons to Win in Lake County - Dayton Dragons
- TinCaps slug way to 8-2 win - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Dragons Receive First Baseman D'Anna From Billings - Dayton Dragons
- Silver Hawks Sweep Loons - Great Lakes Loons
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