MWL1 Bowling Green Hot Rods

Dayton Overcomes Ninth-Inning Deficit to Beat BG

Published on August 16, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Bowling Green Hot Rods News Release


Dayton, Ohio - A back-and-forth game ended in heart-breaking fashion for the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Class-A/Tampa Bay Rays) on Saturday night. The Dayton Dragons (Cincinnati Reds) erased two separate deficits, and rallied for a walk-off win in the ninth to win, 6-5.

The Hot Rods were the first to get on the board in the top of the second. With one out, James Harris extended his hitting streak to eight games with a single. He advanced to second base on a single by Armando Araiza, and then Elias Torres doubled down the left-field line to drive home Harris and give Bowling Green the 1-0 edge.

Jose Ortiz homered with two outs in the second on Friday night, and he repeated the feat on Saturday to tie the game.

The back-and-forth nature continued as the Hot Rods went back in front in the fifth. Araiza started the rally with a one-out walk, and would move to third on a single by Torres and walk to Spencer Edwards. Willy Adames followed with a sacrifice fly to center field to score Araiza and move Torres to third base. Later in the frame, Edwards broke for second with Torres standing at third base. He slid in safely, but the ball kicked away from Dayton shortstop Alex Blandino. It allowed Torres to score, and the Hot Rods led 3-1.

Oscar Hernandez led off the fifth inning with a single would manufacture a run. He was part of a hit-and-run play when Pat Blair grounded to third, he broke for third base after nobody was covering while the throw was going to first base. The throw eventually did get to third, but it went up the line and Hernandez scored to stretch the lead to 4-1.

The Dragons bats awoke in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game. Avain Rachel sent the first pitch of the inning over the left-center field wall for his second home run of the season. One out later, Jamodrick McGruder left the yard to right field to cut the lead to one. Blandino then doubled, and Robert Ramirez sent him home with a single to tie the game.

The Hot Rods untied the contest in the seventh thanks to a balk. Blair rifled a single through the left side with one out, then moved to third when Alexander Simon singled to right field. Dayton reliever Tony Amezcua was called for a balk, and it allowed Blair to score to give Bowling Green back the lead, 5-4.

The Dragons walked off with the win in the ninth under controversial circumstances. Singles by Ortiz and Jon Matthews started the frame, and after Rachel struck out, Jonathan Reynoso grounded to the shortstop Adames. The out was made at second base, and it looked as if the Hot Rods had turned the double play to end the game. However, Reynoso was ruled safe and the game continued. McGruder would single home Ortiz to tie the game, and Reynoso would come home when Blandino hit a ball to the warning track in center field. The result was a walk-off victory, 6-5.

Bruedlin Suero started the game for the Hot Rods and received a no-decision after five innings of work. Brad Schreiber retired all nine batters he faced in three innings, including three strikeouts against the heart of the order in the eighth. Brian Miller (0-1) picked up the loss for Bowling Green.

Pedro Diaz (2-1) entered the game in the eighth and kept Dayton in the game. He was rewarded for his efforts with his second victory of the season.

Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips is expected to join the Dragons on a Major League rehab assignment on Sunday afternoon as the Hot Rods we'll look to avoid the sweep. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CT, and the Pepsi Pre-Game Show begins at 12:45 p.m. CT on the radio home of the Hot Rods, 1340 WBGN - The Ticket. Bowling Green returns home Monday night to open a six-game homestand. For tickets and more information, fans can logon to BGHotRods.com, call 270-901-2121, or visit the Bowling Green Ballpark box office.

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Midwest League Stories from August 16, 2014


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