MWL1 Bowling Green Hot Rods

Hot Rods Game Notes

Published on August 16, 2019 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Bowling Green Hot Rods News Release


With last night's win, BG is tied with the Great Lakes Loons atop the second-half Eastern Division standings and extended their advantage to three-games for the top available playoff spot over the South Bend Cubs (who lost last night). Tonight's game carries a 6:35 PM first pitch.

About Last Night... The Bowling Green Bootleggers took on the Dayton Dragons in the middle game of the three-game set against the Dayton Dragons. Similar to Wednesday, the game began as a scoreless affair, with neither team plating a run through the first two and a half innings. In the bottom of the third, though, the Bootleggers struck first against Dayton starter Lyon Richardson. With two outs, Osmy Gregorio singled and Ford Proctor connected for his seventh home run of the season, giving Bowling Green a 2-0 lead. In the fourth, Miller Hogan gave one of those runs back, as Juan Martinez swatted a solo homer. In the fifth, Dayton threatened to tie the game as consecutive singles opened the inning. However, Hogan struck out the next two hitters and Erik Ostberg threw out a runner attempting to steal, allowing Bowling Green to hold on to the one-run advantage. In the sixth, BG extended the lead as Jonathan Aranda singled home two runs, then scored on an RBI double from Jordan Qsar, giving the Bootleggers a 5-1 cushion. After Hogan completed seven innings, Michael Costanzo fired two scoreless frames, securing the victory to even the series.

Miller Time... A night after Bowling Green needed seven innings of work from four relievers, Miller Hogan saved the BG bullpen, throwing a career-high 7.0 innings and expending just 71 pitches over his outing. In the process, the right-hander earned his fourth consecutive victory, two of which have come against the Dayton Dragons. In those four outings (three starts) dating back to July 25, Hogan has tallied a 1.88 ERA over 24.0 innings, while striking out 23 batters against just three walks. With the victory, Hogan became the fifth Hot Rod this season to win four-straight decisions, joining Alan Strong (who has done it twice), Easton McGee, Matthew Liberatore, and Caleb Sampen, while Liberatore is the only BG hurler to win five straight. Hogan also joins Liberatore as the only Hot Rods to earn the win in four-consecutive appearances.

Rock-Solid Starters... Miller Hogan's 7.0 innings of one-run ball last night contributed further to what has been a stellar month of August for the Bowling Green starting rotation. With his performance, Hot Rods starters are now 5-2 with a 2.13 ERA this month. Additionally, the starting rotation has gone deep into games, as 12 of the 14 starters have gone at least 5.0 innings this month, with the only exceptions being two starts made by reliever Nathan Witt as an opener. Meanwhile, Hogan became the first Hot Rod starter this month to finish 7.0 innings this month. On the season, starting pitching has been a calling card for the Hot Rods, as Bowling Green starters have posted a 3.18 ERA, the second-lowest in the Midwest League, while going 44-26, giving the Hot Rods rotation the most wins and the highest winning percentage (.629)in the league. The rotation has also worked a league-high 630.2 innings, an average of 5.17 frames per start.

Good To Be Home... With the win on Thursday night, the Hot Rods secured their 40th home win of the season, marking the eighth time in the 11-year history that the Hot Rods have won at least 40 games at Bowling Green Ballpark. Over the past four seasons, the Hot Rods have been remarkably consistent in their home park, winning between 41 and 47 home contests each season. All-time, the franchise record for home wins is 48, set in 2011, which would require the Hot Rods to win out to match. This season, the Hot Rods have continued to be the best offensive team in the Midwest League at home, batting .267 and averaging 5.19 runs per game at home. Additionally, Ford Proctor launched Bowling Green's 48th home run at home this season, the third-highest total in the league.

Ball Ford... In addition to his two-run homer last night, Ford Proctor earned a pair of walks, giving him five free passes in the first two games of the series. In his last 11 games, Proctor has earned ten bases on balls, giving him a lofty .444 on-base percentage in the month of August. Even with the recent uptick, the ability to draw a walk has been present all season, as Proctor has earned double-digit walks in every month except April, while his 59 walks this season ranks fourth in the Midwest League. Additionally, despite working plenty of deep counts this month, Proctor has cut down his strikeouts dramatically, fanning just twice in his last 13 games, spanning 59 plate appearances after striking out 76 times in his first 92 games.

Yesterday's Notes... Aranda has a seven-game hitting streak...He also has five multi-RBI games...Proctor homered for the second time in six days...He collected his eighth multi-RBI affair...Hogan worked career-high 7.0 innings...He also earned his fourth-straight win, a career-high...BG is 8-4 all-time as the Bootleggers, 4-4 this season...The Bootleggers are 49-32 when scoring first...Bowling Green starters are 44-26 this season...BG is 40-22 at home this season...The Bootleggers are 10-5 when recording the same number of hits as their opponent...

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Midwest League Stories from August 16, 2019


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