Hot Rods Game Notes
July 7, 2019 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Bowling Green Hot Rods News Release
About Last Night... The Bowling Green Hot Rods looked to secure a series victory over the Dayton Dragons on Friday night and fought an uphill battle the entire way. After Dayton scored three runs in the top of the first inning, the Hot Rods got two of those tallies back right away. Following a Dayton run in the third, the Hot Rods tied the game at four apiece. However, Shane Baz was chased from the game in the top of the fourth, allowing three runs in the inning which allowed Dayton to take the lead for good. In the fifth, Chris Betts unloaded for his 13th homer of the season, and the Hot Rods scored another run in the sixth to close the deficit to one run at 7-6. After trading runs in the seventh, Dayton finally put the Hot Rods away, scoring a run in the eighth to extend the lead. The Hot Rods loaded the bases in the eighth, but could not come through with a timely hit. The Dragons then piled on four runs in the ninth, making the score 13-7, which would be the final, resulting in a split of the four-game series.
Slamming Into the History Books... With his sixth-inning grand slam, Chris Betts etched his name into Hot Rods history. Earlier this season, Betts became just the fifth Hot Rod to record multiple grand slams in the same season, but last night, the BG catcher joined Phillip Wunderlich (in 2011) as the only Hot Rods to ever record three grand slams in one season. Betts also is the only player in the Midwest League to record three grand slams this season and the first in the MWL to hit three in a season since Will Benson of Lake County did so last season.
Welcome Back Hollis... Connor Hollis made up for lost time in his first game back after missing 40 games due to injury. After swatting an RBI double on the first pitch he saw in the first inning, Hollis added another double and a single, finishing the night 3-for-5 with two RBI. He also extended his hitting streak to six games, carrying that stretch over from May. He has gone 10-for-23 with three doubles and four RBI in that stretch, raising his batting average to .292.
A Strong Bounce-back... Alan Strong allowed a career-worst seven runs and lasted just 2.0 innings in his first start after the All-Star break, but his last two performances have put that in the rear-view mirror. After 7.0 innings one one-run ball last night, Strong has surrendered just one run over his past 14.0 innings, allowing just nine hits and three walks while striking out 14. The right-hander also tied his career high for punch-outs on Saturday, fanning eight while completing 7.0 innings for the fifth time this season.
Osmy On A Roll... He didn't play on Saturday, but arguably the hottest hitter in the Hot Rods order is infielder Osmy Gregorio. On Friday night, Gregorio went 3-for-4 for the second-straight night, while adding a walk and a double. Gregorio extended his hitting streak to a season-high eight-straight games. In that stretch, Osmy has smacked 14 hits in 29 at-bats, good for a .483 average, raising his season batting average from .156 to .192.
Yesterday's Notes... Betts homered for the second-straight night...His grand slam was his third of the season, tying the franchise record (also Phillip Wunderlich, 2011)...Betts also collected his 14th multi-RBI contest and tied his season and career-highs with four RBI...Proctor has a six-game hit streak...Hollis extended his hitting streak to six games...He also collected his eight multi-hit game and his third multi-RBI contest...Santiago had his third multi-RBI game and tied his season and career-high with three RBI...Aranda recorded his first multi-hit affair...Strong went 7.0 innings for the fifth time this season...His eight strikeouts tied a season and career-high (also April 16 vs. Lake County)...Bowling Green scored 12 runs, their most since plating 17 runs on May 15 vs. South Bend...BG has scored double-digit runs on nine occasions this season, winning eight of those contests...The Hot Rods are 28-14 at home...They're 41-24 against right-handed starters in 2019...Bowling Green is 18-9 in series openers this season...BG is 37-7 when they out-hit their opponents...Bowling Green is also 36-14 when scoring first...
Midwest League Stories from July 7, 2019
- Bandits Drop Second Straight to Kernels on Sunday Evening - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Cedar Rapids Earns Seventh Win in a Row - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Timber Rattlers to Host 360U/Scheels Girls' Softball Camp on July 31 - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Chiefs Take Lead into Seventh in Burlington - Peoria Chiefs
- Locos Walk to Win over Picantes in 9th, 3-2 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Picantes Lose Tight One to Locos - Lake County Captains
- Cubs Blank Dragons for Second Straight Day, Win 10-0 - South Bend Cubs
- Cubs Shutout Dragons on Sunday - Dayton Dragons
- Zac Almond's Heroics Mired in Extra-Innings Loss - Kane County Cougars
- Gregorio Walks Off Whitecaps in 3-2 Win - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Two-Run Ninth Get Wisconsin a Walkoff Win over Beloit - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Hot Rods Walk-Off 'Caps - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Lazy Sunday - Great Lakes Loons
- TinCaps Win Second Straight on Road - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Hot Rods Game Notes - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- 3 Recent TinCaps Pitchers in 2019 MLB Futures Game - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Bees Accumulate Double-Digit Hits in 9-2 Victory - Burlington Bees
- TinCaps Game Notes: July 7 at Great Lakes (Game 85) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Dragons Notes for Sunday - Dayton Dragons
- 'Caps Run over by Hot Rods - West Michigan Whitecaps
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