Dietrich Homers Close To Home
September 3, 2011 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Bowling Green Hot Rods News Release
Eastlake, OH - Derek Dietrich homered 40 minutes from his home town and Eliazer Suero pitched into the seventh, but neither had enough for the Hot Rods (36-32, 77-61) in a 4-3 series-opening loss at Lake County (22-45, 50-86). The loss opens the final series of the regular season before the Hot Rods begin postseason play on Wednesday night.
The teams traded a pair of early runs against the respective starters. Three doubles scored a pair for Lake County in the bottom of the second against Eliazer Suero. The Hot Rods answered with a pair of their own in the top of the third. The first scored on a double play by Dietrich before Steve Tinoco reached on an infield single to tie the game at 2-2.
The starters settled in from there as Felix Sterling faced the minimum over the fifth and sixth innings. In a 2-2 game, Suero was just as good, limiting the Captains to one walk and one hit batter from the third through the fifth.
In the sixth, Dietrich struck to put the Hot Rods on top. Leading off the inning he belted an early offering to deep left-center into the grass berm for his 22nd home run of the season. The blast was his fourth against the Captains and gave the Hot Rods a 3-2 lead.
Lake County wasn't through, however, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to take a 4-3 lead. Carlos Moncrief led off the frame with a solo home run against Suero. The next batter walked before Suero was lifted from the game. That walk was costly as the Captains pushed the runner around on a sac bunt, a groundout, and an infield single to re-take the lead.
Suero (L; 8-6) took the loss after being charged with four runs over six-plus innings. He gave up five hits, walked two, and struck out four in his longest start of the season. Joey Mahalic (W; 1-5) earned the victory, stifling a Hot Rods rally in the eighth after Lake County took its final lead.
The teams continue the series on Sunday afternoon at 12 PM CDT. LHP Enny Romero (5-5, 4.46) makes his final start of the regular season against Lake County RHP Joe Colon (1st start). You can follow the game with Tom Gauthier at 11:35 AM CDT on 1340 AM WBGN or www.bghotrods.com.
The Hot Rods return home for the first home playoff game in team history on Thursday night, September 8, at 6:35 PM against a to-be-determined opponent. The first playoff game will feature $2 Thrifty Thursday food and drink specials as well as postgame fireworks. For tickets to an historic night in South Central Kentucky, visit www.bghotrods.com.
Midwest League Stories from September 3, 2011
- Loons Beat Silver Hawks, 6-1 - Great Lakes Loons
- Hamilton Reaches 100 Stolen Base Mark in Dragons' Win - Dayton Dragons
- Dragons halt Lugs' winning streak, 4-2 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Captains Use the Wash to Snap Skid - Lake County Captains
- Hawks Drop Third Straight - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Dietrich Homers Close To Home - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Bandits-Chiefs Washed Out - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Chiefs Game Cancelled Saturday Night - Peoria Chiefs
- Rattlers and Snappers rained out on Saturday - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Bees - Kernels Rained Out - Burlington Bees
- Bees - Kernels Rained Out - Burlington Bees
- Tonigiht's Game Between the Snappers and Timber Rattlers Rained Out - Beloit Sky Carp
- Carignan Becomes Latest Cougars Alum to Reach Bigs - Kane County Cougars
- Corey Kluber becomes former Fort Wayne player # 105 to make it to major leagues - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- TinCaps blank 'Hawks 12-0 in home finale - Fort Wayne TinCaps
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