MWL1 Bowling Green Hot Rods

Hot Rods Rally Late, Fall in Extras

Published on May 20, 2013 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Bowling Green Hot Rods News Release


Comstock Park, MI - Lance Durham launched a walk-off double in the bottom of the eleventh inning to send the West Michigan Whitecaps (20-22) to a 7-6 win over the Bowling Green Hot Rods (27-16) on Monday afternoon at Fifth Third Ballpark. Andrew Toles two-out RBI triple gave the Hot Rods a 5-4 lead in the top of the ninth in the back-and-forth affair, but the Whitecaps sent the game to extras with a run in the bottom half. The game fell just one minute shy of four hours and included a one-hour eleven minute rain delay before the top of the eleventh.

On just the fifth pitch of the game, Hot Rods outfielder Joey Rickard drove a homerun over the left-centerfield fence to place the Hot Rods in an early 1-0 advantage. It was Rickard's first homer since August. The lead changed hands for the second time when Durham hit his first of two two-run homers off of Hot Rods starter Jeff Ames in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Two Whitecap errors in the top of the sixth inning led the Hot Rods to score three unearned runs off West Michigan starter Endrys Briceno. But, Durham tagged Ames again with a two-run homer in the bottom half of the inning. That capped a three-run inning for the Whitecaps at the plate to put them back in front 5-4. The Hot Rods tied the score in the top of the eighth on a Patrick Leonard single that scored Justin O'Conner.

Having only surrendered five runs all season coming into the outing (42.1 innings), Ames finished allowing five runs on ten hits in the no decision. The Hot Rods loss is the first with Ames, who has made a team-leading eight starts, on the mound this season.

With Rickard on second base in the top of the ninth inning, Toles connected for his second hit of the game, his eighth triple of the season, to score the go-ahead run. Toles leads all of affiliated baseball (MiLB and MLB) in triples.

The Whitecaps scored the tying run in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the rains came in the top of the tenth. The tarp was applied after both teams did not score in the tenth, and Fifth Third Ballpark waited out an hour-plus rain delay. After the Hot Rods did not score in the top of the eleventh once play resumed, Durham doubled home Devon Travis in the bottom of the eleventh as the "˜Caps edged the Hot Rods.

After an off day Tuesday, Bowling Green Ballpark hosts a seven-game homestand, starting Wednesday at 5:30 PM, when the Hot Rods begin a four-game series with the Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers). Join Hank Fuerst and Chris Kleinhans-Schulz on the call on the Hot Rods Radio Network. The Forever Communications Pregame Show begins at 5:00 PM CDT.

Wednesday evening features a Kids Expo at the ballpark, featuring an opportunity for kids to take the field during the national anthem, play catch on the field between games, enjoy face painters and clowns, and sign up for camps and youth programs. For more information and to secure your tickets, call the Hot Rods at (270) 901-2121 or visit BGHotRods.com.

Check out the Bowling Green Hot Rods Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from May 20, 2013


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