Hot Rods now in second place in Eastern Division playoff chase
Published on June 10, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Bowling Green Hot Rods News Release
Clinton, IA - Hector Guevara had four more hits on Friday night leading another potent Hot Rods attack in a 6-4 win over the Clinton LumberKings (21-41) at Alliant Energy Field. The victory is the third straight for Bowling Green (34-28) moving the team into second place in the Eastern Division, just a half-game behind Lansing with eight games to go in the first half.
Guevara's big night started in the top of the first inning. With one out he doubled on a two-strike pitch into the left field corner. He came around to score right away when Phil Wunderlich dropped a single into left field to give the Hot Rods a 1-0 lead.
After Clinton tied it in the first on a home run from Mickey Wiswall, the Hot Rods re-took the lead in the fourth inning. With two outs, Robby Price doubled into the gap in left-center, and then scored on an RBI single from Nick Schwaner to make it 2-1. Clinton rallied again in the bottom of the frame against starter George Jensen with an RBI single from Kalian Sams to tie the game at 2-2.
The Hot Rods went on top for good in the top of the fifth with another two-out rally. Wunderlich began the surge with a two-out walk, scoring on a Julio Cedeno double to the wall in right-center. Derek Dietrich followed Cedeno with a single to left to plate another run for a 4-2 lead.
Guevara figured more prominently in the next rally in the sixth inning. With one out, a walk and a single put runners at first and second base. After Cody Rogers flied to center field, Guevara delivered his fourth hit of the night, a two-out single to right field to put the Hot Rods on top 5-2.
That lead was in jeopardy in the bottom of the sixth as the LumberKings broke out the lumber again against Jensen. A lead-off double and one-out single made it a two-run game at 5-3. Jensen then walked the next two hitters to load the bases before leaving the game for Nate Garcia. The Hot Rods reliever induced the first hitter he faced into a fly ball to shallow center field; Kevin Kiermaier made the catch and then completed the double play by throwing out Tim Morris at home plate for the final out of the inning.
Jensen pitched 5.1 innings in front of friends and family, who made the trip from Eagan, Minnesota for the three-game weekend series. He allowed three runs on six hits and two walks. The righty struck out six before leaving the game with the lead intact.
Heading into the eighth, the game was put on hold due to heavy rain, thunder, and lightning in the Clinton area. After a 1:15 rain delay the game resumed with the Hot Rods scoring an insurance run on another two-out strike from Wunderlich in the top of the ninth inning for a 6-3 lead. Jimmy Patterson and Austin Hubbard
Guevara finished the night with base hits in each of his first four at-bats to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. He stroked doubles in the first and third before singling in the fifth and sixth. The second baseman scored a run, drove home another, and swiped his second base of the season. He is tied for the team lead with 13 doubles, 11 of them coming during this hitting streak. Over those past 13 games he is hitting .472 (25-53).
Wunderlich finished the game with two hits and two more RBI to give him 43 on the season, second most in the Midwest League. Kiermaier and Cedeno also had two hits apiece as the Hot Rods have recorded double-digit hit totals in three straight wins.
The series continues on Saturday night with a first pitch at 6 PM from Alliant Energy Field. LHP C.J. Riefenhauser (3-5, 2.45) takes the ball against Clinton RHP Forrest Snow (2-7, 3.77). You can listen to the game with Tom Gauthier beginning at 5:35 PM CDT on 1340 AM WBGN and www.bghotrods.com.
The Hot Rods return home for their final home stand of the first half on Tuesday, June 14, against the West Michigan Whitecaps (Detroit Tigers). The home stand begins with another IGA All-You-Can-Eat Tuesday beginning at 7:05 PM. For tickets and a list of the entire set of promotions for the three-game series, visit www.bghotrods.com.
Midwest League Stories from June 10, 2011
- Hot Rods Motor Past Paxton, Kings - Clinton LumberKings
- Strong pitching leads to Kernels 5-2 win over Lansing - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Hot Rods now in second place in Eastern Division playoff chase - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- TinCaps outslug Rattlers, 11-5 - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Bandits offense hit high-water marks - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Gonzales Provides Late-Inning Fireworks for Snappers - Beloit Sky Carp
- Lugnuts strand 14, fall to Kernels - Lansing Lugnuts
- Five-Run First Guides Chiefs Over South Bend, 6-3 - Peoria Chiefs
- Cougars Score First but Fall to Dragons - Kane County Cougars
- Captains fall 3-2 in 10 - Lake County Captains
- Early Lead Enough for Chiefs - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Three-run Eighth Propels The Whitecaps - Burlington Bees
- Dragons defeat Kane County - Dayton Dragons
- Cougars Pick up Pitcher - Kane County Cougars
- Former Silver Hawks Bryan Shaw Heading to Majors - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Moustakas to Make MLB Debut Tonight - Burlington Bees
- Captains Announce Free Android App - Lake County Captains
- Lugnuts blank Bandits, avoid sweep - Lansing Lugnuts
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