Hot Rods Game Notes
June 10, 2019 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Bowling Green Hot Rods News Release
Tuesday the Hot Rods welcome in the Fort Wayne TinCaps to conclude the final home stand of the first half.
About Yesterday... The Bowling Green Hot Rods battled both the West Michigan Whitecaps and Mother Nature twice on Sunday, but they managed to overcome both. Despite two rain delays, the Hot Rods swept a doubleheader from the Whitecaps. In game one, both offenses were quiet as Matthew Liberatore and Gio Arriera matched zeroes for the first five innings of the seven-inning game. In the sixth, though Bowling Green broke through for four runs. Seaver Whalen hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded, Ford Proctor doubled home a run, and two additional runs scored on a passed ball and a wild pitch to provide all four runs Liberatore needed. West Michigan scored once off Trey Cumbie in the seventh, but the Hot Rods took game one 4-1. In the second game, Bowling Green took the lead right away as Wander Franco tripled home Michael Smith in the first, then scored when the relay throw got away. The Hot Rods added another run in the fourth on an RBI single from Whalen. After Cristopher Sanchez tossed 5.0 shutout innings, West Michigan connected for a pair of solo homers in the sixth off Chris Muller to cut the deficit to one run. In the seventh, the Whitecaps put runners on the corners with nobody out, but Nick Padilla threw out the tying run at the plate on a squeeze bunt and held West Michigan off the board, nailing down a 3-2 win and the sweep of the twin bill.
Lets Win Two... In the first true doubleheader (not counting suspended) games played at Bowling Green Ballpark since May 22, 2018, the Bowling Green Hot Rods swept the West Michigan Whitecaps. The sweep was the second time in eight days that the Hot Rods had swept a doubleheader, after winning two games in Lansing on June 2. Furthermore, Sunday saw the first doubleheader sweep by Bowling Green since taking two against the South Bend Cubs on April 15, 2018.
That Was Fast... They were only seven-inning contests, but yesterday's games lasted just 1:37 and 1:43, respectively. They both surpass a 1:47 contest in Cedar Rapids on May 1 as they quickest games played by the Hot Rods this season. Game two was the shortest game for Bowling Green since a 1:43 affair at Lake County on April 22, 2015. Game one's time was the shortest since June 11, 2014 vs. Dayton and is the third-fastest in franchise history. The shortest game in franchise history remains a 1:30 game at Savannah on August 2, 2009. On the season, Bowling Green has an average game time of 2:43, which ranks as the second-fastest game time in the Midwest League (behind Clinton, who has averaged one minute less) and fourth in all of Class-A.
Looking at the Playoff Picture... Having won their first three games of the series with West Michigan, Bowling Green has taken sole possession of second place in the Midwest League East Division standings, as well as the second and final playoff berth up for grabs in the first half. Having entered the series tied for third and 1.5 games out of a playoff spot, the Hot Rods have managed to leapfrog Lake County, who lost on both Friday and Saturday. With seven games remaining in the first half, the Hot Rods sit 3.5 games back of Great Lakes, who have taken control of the division, by winning the past three days.
Yesterday's Notes... In game one, Liberatore tied a career high with 6.0 innings, which he set in his last start on June 2...Franco has a 15-game on-base streak...Smith extended his hitting streak to four games in game one before having it snapped in game two...Franco had a streak of 42 consecutive at-bats and 46 consecutive plate appearances without a strikeout snapped in game one...Whalen had two hits in game two, his fourth multi-hit game of the season...Sanchez worked a season-high 5.0 innings in game two...Bowling Green has swept two doubleheaders this season (also June 2 at Lansing) and are 2-0-3 in twinbills this season...The Hot Rods improved to 5-19 when outhit by their opponents... They also are 24-11 when scoring first...Bowling Green is 14-3 in day games...The Hot Rods are 31-17 against right-handed starters...BG is 21-10 at home...Bowling Green is 12-5-2 in series this season...
Midwest League Stories from June 10, 2019
- Forgettable Fifth Inning Derails Bandits in 9-3 Loss - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Cardenas Narrowly Misses Cycle in Win over Lansing - Lake County Captains
- Alexander's Three-Hit Night Helps Cougars Avoid Sweep - Kane County Cougars
- Cubs Swept by Loons and Fall in Finale 8-3 - South Bend Cubs
- Four-Game Sweep? No Problem - Great Lakes Loons
- Danner Goes Deep Again in 10-4 Lugnuts Loss - Lansing Lugnuts
- Banfield, Scott Homer in LumberKings Win - Clinton LumberKings
- Dragons Edge Fort Wayne 3-2 as Thrilling Finish Extends Winning Streak to Eight - Dayton Dragons
- 'Caps Fall Just Short in Series Finale at Dayton - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Snappers stay hot on the road, take series in Appleton - Beloit Sky Carp
- "Quake" County Captains Debut Tuesday, June 11 - Lake County Captains
- LumberKings Come Home for Final Time in 1st Half - Clinton LumberKings
- Kernels Homestand Preview: June 11-16 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Rattlers Fall Short to Beloit in 4-1 Loss - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- 'Caps Lose Seventh Straight - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Alvarez Homers, Sampen Shines in 4-0 Win to Clinch Sweep - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Long Road Swing Ends with 10-1 Rout - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Chiefs Blown Out by Cedar Rapids - Peoria Chiefs
- Dragons Notes for Monday - Dayton Dragons
- Parkview Field Recognized as Best Class A Ballpark - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Hagen Danner Named MWL Player of the Week - Lansing Lugnuts
- TinCaps Game Notes: June 10 at Dayton (Game 62) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Bees Sweep Doubleheader over Clinton, 4-3, 2-1 - Burlington Bees
- Deason Named Midwest League Pitcher of the Week - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Hot Rods Game Notes - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Hulsizer Named in Home Run Derby Field - Great Lakes Loons
- MWL Announces All-Star Home Run Derby Participants - MWL1
- Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report - OSC Original by Dan Krieger
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