MWL1 Bowling Green Hot Rods

Dragons Sweep DH with Pair of One-Run Wins

Published on August 9, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Bowling Green Hot Rods News Release


Bowling Green, Ky. - The rain finally stopped falling prior to Friday night's doubleheader, but the Dayton Dragons (Class-A/Cincinnati Reds) were able to take both games from the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Tampa Bay Rays). Dayton rallied to win game one, 3-2, and they held off a late Hot Rods charge to take game two, 8-7.

Game one got off to a quick start for the Hot Rods, as Willy Adames drove the first pitch in the bottom of the first into the left-center field gap. While he took a big turn around the bag, Adames settled for a double, and would later score when Julian Ridings hit a single up the middle.

That lead doubled when James Harris went yard. Playing in front of his parents and just one day after his 21st birthday, Harris blasted a solo shot into the Home Run Grille in left-center field. It was Harris' fifth of the season, and it doubled the Bowling Green advantage to 2-0.

With both games scheduled for seven innings, the Hot Rods stood three outs away from victory when Dayton rallied to steal game one. Jonathan Reynoso and Joe Hudson each drew walks to start the inning. Hudson was replaced by Nick Benedetto at first base, and Jamodrick McGruder then reached on an error by Alexander Simon. Reyneso scored on the play, and Benedetto ended up at third base. He would score to tie the game when Jon Matthews grounded out, and Dayton would go in front for good in game one when Alex Blandino singled home Ronald Bueno later in the inning.

Evan Mitchell (2-3) worked the sixth inning and received the win in game one, while Alejandro Chacin converted his 17th save of the season. Brad Schreiber (2-7) picked up the loss for Bowling Green.

Game two would not start off well for the Hot Rods, as Dayton went in front 1-0 in the first. However, they would plate two in the bottom half of the inning. Adames and Pat Blair started with walks, and Simon would plate Adames with a base hit into left-center field. The play moved Blair to third base, and after Ty Young grounded into a double play, Blair scored to give the Hot Rods the 2-1 edge.

The Dragons would recapture the lead in the fourth by plating four runs. Benedetto reached on a wild pitch to start the frame, and one out later, he would score when Bueno doubled into right field. Bueno moved to third on the throw home, and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Blandino. Robert Ramirez then tripled into right-center field to score Phil Ervin who had singled, but Ramirez was able to score as well thanks to an error. Dayton led 5-2 at that point.

Three more runs crossed for Dayton in the fifth to swell the lead to 8-2. Jonathan Reynoso walked to lead-off the inning, and following walks to Benedetto and McGruder, the bases were full. Two runs would then cross on a throwing error by Blair during an attempted double play. The final run crossed on another Blandino sacrifice fly, scoring McGruder.

The Hot Rods nearly pulled off a comeback for the ages, as they scored five in the fifth to cut the lead to one. Blair and Simon hit back-to-back singles with one out, and Young walked to load the bases. Two consecutive errors allowed Armando Araiza and Elias Torres each reached on errors to follow and both plays allowed a run to score. With Young at third and Araiza at second, Harris singled home Young and advanced Araiza to third base. One out later, Douglas Duran recorded his first hit as a Hot Rod; a double into the right-field corner to plate a pair of runs and slice the lead to one. However, the Hot Rods would get no closer as they fell in game two, 8-7.

Pedro Diaz (1-1) helped stop the rally in the fifth inning, and he was credited with the win. Jake Faria (7-7) started for the Hot Rods and received the loss. Joel Bender pitched a routine seventh and earned his second save of the season.

The Hot Rods will look to rebound on Saturday night against the Dragons. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on Signature Saturday, and the first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a throwback Hot Rods hat. For tickets and more information, fans can logon to BGHotRods.com, call 270-901-2121, or visit the Bowling Green Ballpark box office.

Check out the Bowling Green Hot Rods Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from August 9, 2014


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