Hot Rods out Pace Silver Hawks, 7-4, To

May 7, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
South Bend Silver Hawks News Release


The Bowling Green Hot Rods (15-17) completed a three game sweep of the South Bend Silver Hawks (17-16) with a 7-4 victory in a Wednesday matinee at Four Winds Field. The Hawks fell behind early and were never able to catch up. Sloppy defense cost them again as they committed four errors in the game leading to a pair of early unearned runs that put them in a hole.

Bowling Green, the Class-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, jumped all over Hawks starting pitcher Jose Martinez in the top of the first. Shortstop Juniel Querecuto led off with a bunt single down the third base line. Second baseman Kean Wong followed with a double down the left field line before center fielder Johnny Field was hit by a pitch to set the Hot Rods up with the bases loaded and nobody out. Designated hitter Armando Araiza followed with a sacrifice fly to center that scored Querecuto for a 1-0 lead. Wong attempted to tag up and go to third on the play but was thrown out by center fielder Breland Almadova for the second out of the inning while Field went to second on the throw. Field then stole third and scored on the play as catcher B.J. Lopez's throw went into left field for an error, giving Bowling Green a 2-0 lead.

South Bend, the Class-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, tied the game up in the bottom of the first. With one out, second baseman Jamie Westbrook reached first on a fielding error by Querecuto. Shortstop Joe Munoz followed with a two-run homer over the left field wall to tie the game at 2-2.

It did not take long for the Hot Rods to get the lead back as they scored a pair of runs in the top of the second. Starter Jose Martinez (L, 1-1) was forced to leave the game with an injury after throwing two pitches to leadoff hitter Oscar Hernandez. Blayne Weller replaced him with the count at 2-0 and Hernandez drew a walk. Third baseman Ty Young doubled down the left field line to put runners at second and third with no outs. Weller got the next two hitters to look at called third strikes but could not escape the inning unscathed as Querecuto's grounder to short was booted by Munoz, letting both runners score and giving the Hot Rods a 4-2 lead.

The score remained at 4-2 until the top of the fifth when Bowling Green added another pair of runs. Querecuto led off with a double to left off Weller. After Wong flied out, Field lined a single into right field to put runners at the corners. Araiza laid down a bunt on a squeeze play that Weller could not field cleanly. Querecuto scored, Field went to second and Araiza reached on the error while being credited with a successful sacrifice bunt and an RBI. Left fielder Granden Goetzman doubled home the Hot Rods' sixth run of the game with a line drive to right that made it 6-2 and ended Weller's afternoon. John Shuttlesworth came in to make his Silver Hawks debut and retired the next two hitters, stranding runners at second and third.

The Hawks brought the game back within reach with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning off Hot Rods' starter Chris Kirsch (W, 2-4). With one out, third baseman Steve McQuail tripled high off the center field wall. First baseman George Roberts then beat out an infield single to short that kept McQuail at third. Left fielder Stryker Trahan laced a bullet that ate up Alexander Simon at first for an error that scored McQuail and moved Roberts to third. Lopez hit a fly ball to deep left that plated Roberts and cut the lead to 6-4.

The Hot Rods quickly got an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Araiza led off the inning with a long homerun to deep left-center field on an 0-1 offering from Shuttlesworth that made the score 7-4. Colton Reavis (S, 1) closed out the game with three innings of shutout relief to finish off the series sweep by the Bowling Green Hot Rods.

The Silver Hawks are back in action on Thursday night as they welcome in the Great Lakes Loons, the Class-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, for a three game series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm. Righty Victor Arano (2-1, 3.57 ERA) gets the ball for the Loons while lefty Hector Hernandez (0-0, 0.00 ERA) takes the hill for the Hawks. It is Thirsty Thursday at Four Winds Field where fans can enjoy 22 ounce sodas and 16 ounce beers for just $2 each all game. It is also Hoosier Lottery Night where the first 1,000 fans 18 or older will receive a free lottery ticket upon entry.



Midwest League Stories from May 7, 2014


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