SAL Bowling Green Hot Rods

Edwards Walks off Crawdads for Hot Rods 70th Win on Wednesday

Published on September 2, 2021 under South Atlantic League (SAL)
Bowling Green Hot Rods News Release


Bowling Green, Kentucky - Evan Edwards' walk-off home run tied the franchise single-season home run record in the Bowling Green Hot Rods (70-33) 5-4 win over the Hickory Crawdads (45-55) on Wednesday at Bowling Green Ballpark in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The two teams play a doubleheader on Thursday with a 5:05 PM CT first pitch.

The Crawdads brought in the first run of the game in the top of the second inning to take an early 1-0 lead. Bowling Green answered in the bottom half against Hickory starter Justin Slaten. With one out, Grant Witherspoon crushed a homer 427 feet to right, tying the game 1-1. An out later, Logan Driscoll singled and Hill Alexander cleared the bases with a two-run blast, increasing the Hot Rods edge to 3-1.

Bowling Green added another run in the third inning with Slaten still on the bump. Brett Wisely worked a leadoff walk and moved to third on an Alika Williams single. Curtis Mead brought him home on a fielder's choice to expand the lead to 4-1.

Hickory drove in two runs in the fifth on a Jared Walker base-hit and a Jonathan Ornelas double, bringing the score to 4-3. In the top of the ninth inning, Trey Hair hit a solo homer, evening the score at 4-4. Trevor Brigden recorded the final two outs and sent the Hot Rods to the plate with a tie game.

The Hot Rods faced Hickory reliever Justin Marsden in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs, Edwards hit a walk-off homer to left, giving the Hot Rods a 5-4 win. The homer was his 22nd of the season, which ties him with Derek Dietrich from the 2011 club for the most home runs in a single season. The walk-off also gives Bowling Green their 70th win of the year.

John Doxakis tossed 5.0 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits while walking two and striking out six in a no-decision. Michael Costanzo hurled 2.0 perfect innings while striking out two in his fifth hold of the year. Brigden (6-0) pitched 2.0 innings, surrendering one run on one hits while striking out three in his sixth win of the season.

Notes: Edwards tied the single-season home run record with his 22nd of the season... He is now tied with Derek Dietrich from the 2011 club for the most in Hot Rods history... The walk-off was also Edwards' second of the season for Bowling Green... He has walked-off two out of the last three wins... Williams had his first multi-hit game with the Hot Rods... Wisely collected his fifth multi-hit game for Bowling Green... This is his second three-hit game... Witherspoon had his team-leading 21st multi-hit performance of the campaign... Doxakis' six strikeouts falls one short of his season-high... Bowling Green is the second MiLB team this season to reach 70 wins... They are only behind Tampa Bay Rays Low-A Affiliate, the Charleston Riverdogs who reached 70 wins on August 28th... The Hot Rods are 26-15 when scoring first this season... They are 48-4 when outhitting opponents... The Hot Rods and Crawdads play a doubleheader on Thursday with a 5:05 PM CT first pitch... Bowling Green sends RH Evan McKendry (3-2, 3.67) to the bump against Hickory RH Jesus Linarez (2-2, 5.08) in game one... Game two will be the Hot Rods RH Michael Mercado (2-5, 5.65) against the Crawdads RH Seth Nordlin (3-2, 4.52)... Fans can catch all of the action by watching on MiLB.tv or listening through the MiLB First Pitch app, tuning into WBGN 94.5 FM and 1340 AM, or visiting https://www.milb.com/bowling-green/fans/audio-listen-live.

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South Atlantic League Stories from September 2, 2021


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