Hot Rods Peel Out with 11-Run First to Beat Hawks 12-2

June 26, 2013 - Midwest League (MWL1)
South Bend Silver Hawks News Release


The South Bend Silver Hawks returned to Coveleski Stadium for their first home game of the second-half and were rudely greeted by an offensive outburst from the Bowling Green Hot Rods. Bowling Green (42-33, 4-3) scored a Midwest League season-high 11 runs in the first inning en route to a 12-2 victory over South Bend (47-29, 3-4). Hot Rods second baseman Tommy Coyle drove in four runs in the first with a two-run homer and a two-run single.

Hawks starter Brad Allen (2-4) got roughed up right away, surrendering seven earned runs over 1/3 of an inning. Bowling Green center fielder Joey Rickard led off the game with a ringing triple to deep center field. Third baseman Tyler Goeddel beat out an infield single to shortstop to drive in Rickard for the first run of the game. Coyle worked the count full and then launched a home run to deep right field off of the light pole by the scoreboard, giving the Hot Rods a 3-0 lead. Right fielder Marty Gantt was hit by a pitch, stole second base, and then moved over to third when catcher Justin O'Conner grounded out 4-3. Shortstop Leonard Reginatto doubled to center field to extend the lead to 4-0. Right fielder Ryan Dunn was then hit by a pitch and first baseman Patrick Leonard walked to load the bases with nobody out. That signaled the end of the day for Allen as J.R. Bradley came in out of the pen in relief for the Silver Hawks.

Bradley was unable to stop the Hot Rods assault as designated hitter Brandon Martin singled home a run to make it 5-0. Bradley then walked both Rickard and Goeddel to force in two more runs for the Hot Rods. With the bases still loaded, Coyle lined a two-run single to right field. Bradley struck out Gantt for the second out of the inning but O'Conner drove in the tenth run with a ground ball single up the middle. Reginatto put on the finishing touches with a single to right field, scoring the eleventh and final run of the inning. On the 16th batter of the half inning, Bradley got Dunn to loft a lazy fly ball to right field to mercifully end the inning with the Hot Rods ahead 11-0.

South Bend, the Class-A affiliate of the National League West leading Arizona Diamondbacks, tried to start a rally in the bottom of the first inning against Bowling Green starter Sean Bierman (4-3). Second baseman Fidel Pena reached first on a strikeout when the ball got past the catcher. Center fielder Breland Almadova grounded a single up the middle and advanced Pena to second. Right fielder Socrates Brito put the Hawks on the board with a line drive single to right field that scored Pena. Designated hitter Brandon Drury walked to load the bases and force the Hot Rods pitching coach to come to the mound. Whatever he said was effective as left fielder Aaron Glenn popped out to the first baseman on the first pitch and then catcher Roidany Aguila hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning with the score 11-1.

Bowling Green, the Class-A affiliate of the Tampa Rays, immediately got the run back when Coyle drove in his fifth run of the game on a two-out line drive single to center field that scored Rickard from second. Coyle finished the game four-for-five with a home run, three singles, 5 RBIs and two runs scored while Rickard scored three runs in the game.

The Hawks made the score 12-2 in the bottom of the third inning. Pena led off with a double and went to third on Almadova's single. Brito then drove in his second run of the game with an infield single down the first base line. Bierman got out of any further trouble by striking out Drury and Aguila, sandwiched around a fly out by Glenn. The Hawks would not get any closer as the game finished 12-2. The Hawks threatened multiple times but Bowling Green's pitchers worked out of trouble with the help of four double plays. Jose Molina (S, 1) pitched the last four innings for the Hot Rods to earn his first save of the season. South Bend's bullpen was able to keep the Hot Rods offense at bay after the first two innings. Enrique Garcia and Chris Capper combined to pitch six shutout innings and Jose Jose made his home debut for the Silver Hawks with a perfect ninth.

The Hawks and Hot Rods continue the series Thursday night at 7:05pm. Blake Snell (2-5, 3.65 ERA) will start for Bowling Green while Daniel Watts (9-3, 3.53 ERA) takes the hill for the Silver Hawks. It is Thirsty Thursday at the Cove so come out to the ballpark and enjoy $1 soda and beer all night long. There will also be a special fireworks show after the game.



Midwest League Stories from June 26, 2013


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