Hot Rods Peel Past Silver Hawks, 11-1

Published on June 1, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
South Bend Silver Hawks News Release


The South Bend Silver Hawks struggled again against the Bowling Green Hot Rods on Sunday at Four Winds Field, losing 11-1. For the second day in a row Bowling Green put up a double-digit run total while the Hawks only scraped out one run. The Silver Hawks were not without opportunities. They scattered six hits including doubles from designated hitter Steve McQuail and third baseman Marty Herum. As a team, South Bend batted 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position. On the bright side, the Silver Hawks remain in first place in the Midwest League Eastern Division.

The Bowling Green Hot Rods, Class-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, struck first with a run in the top of the third. With one out, South Bend starter, Josh Slaats (L, 0-1) issued a walk to designated hitter Juniel Querecuto. Second baseman Kean Wong then hit a sharp grounder to Andrew Velazquez at short. Velazaquez was unable to corral the ball and the runners were safe on the E-6 fielding. The error proved to be costly as center fielder Johnny Field followed with a double off the left field wall to score Querecuto for the first run of the game.

South Bend evened the score in the bottom of the third. Herum led off the frame with a single back up the middle to center. He moved into scoring position at second as center fielder Breland Almadova laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt. A fly-out to center by Velazquez allowed Herum to advance to third. Second baseman Jamie Westbrook then collected the only RBI on the day for the Hawks as his infield single to third brought Herum home. Westbrook grounded sharply down the third base line. Ty Young made a diving stab at third and came up firing, but his throw to first was tardy.

The Hot Rods zeroed in on Slaats in the fifth. With one out, Wong singled to center and was followed by Field's single to left. This ended Slaats afternoon as Bud Jeter was called in from the pen. Catcher Armando Araiza promptly grounded to third for a fielder's choice as Field was forced out at second. A walk to Young then loaded the bases, but not for long. Shortstop Pat Blair laced a double to left-center to score Wong and Araiza and move Young around to third. Left fielder Darryl George lofted a single to shallow center to score Young. Almadova saw Blair heading for home and fired a throw towards the plate. First baseman Daniel Palka cut the throw just behind the mound and caught George in a run down. George was eventually tagged out 8-3-4, but not before Blair crossed the plate to push the Hot Rods in front 5-1.

Bowling Green continued to light up the scoreboard in the sixth. First baseman Alexander Simon singled to right to start the rally. Querecuto followed with a single to left. Wong then grounded a ball to first that ate-up Palka and the bases were quickly loaded thanks to the E-3 fielding. Araiza grounded a ball deep in the hole between third and short. Velazquez was able to field the ball on the edge of the dirt, but not in time to get Araiza at first as Simon scored. The windmill was then set in motion as Young roped a triple into the right-center gap that cleared the bases as Querecuto, Wong and Araiza all scored. The nightmare inning was not over yet. Blair lined a single back up the middle into center to plate Young and give the Hot Rods a 10-1 edge on 5 unearned runs.

The South Bend Silver Hawks, Class-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, looked to threaten in the bottom of the sixth. Westbrook led off the inning with a walk and then moved up to second on a single to center by McQuail. Then with two outs, a wild pitch during left fielder Chuck Taylor's at bat allowed Westbrook and McQuail to move up to third and second respectively. Taylor then lined a ball towards the left-center gap, but Field made a great diving catch to end the inning and keep the Hawks off the board.

Bowling Green added another run in the top of the eighth as Araiza launched a homer to deep left into the Tiki Hut off Hawks reliever John Shuttlesworth. The Hawks were unable to muster much offense on the day as the Bowling Green staff combined to shut them down. Hot Rods starter, Ryne Stanek (W, 2-2), tossed six innings, allowing only one earned run while striking out six. The Bowling Green bullpen of Brad Schreiber and William Gabay worked three hitless innings, keeping the 11-1 victory entact.

Monday is a school day at Four Winds Field! The Silver Hawks and Hot Rods wrap up the series Monday at 10:35 a.m. Sean Furney (1-1, 6.30) gets the start for the Hawks, and German Marquez (2-2, 4.17) is scheduled to pitch for the Hot Rods. All school kids in attendance will receive a Lunchables meal, presented by Oscar Mayer.

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