Hot Rods Take Opener in Asheville
June 5, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Bowling Green Hot Rods News Release
(Asheville, NC) - In one of the sloppiest games of the season, the Hot Rods survived the craziness to take game one of a three game series against the Asheville Tourists, 5-4, on Friday night at McCormick Park. The victory came in bizarre fashion as the Hot Rods scores as many runs, five, as errors they committed defensively, five. Asheville had the same misfortune, scoring four runs while committing four errors.
The wackiness started right away in the top of the first inning. Anthony Scelfo and Tim Beckham led off with a single and double, respectively, leaving runners at second and third for Jake Jefferies. The Hot Rods catcher bounced a ball to shortstop, driving in Scelfo for his 28th RBI of the season. On the play, however, Jefferies was safe at first and Beckham was safe at third after shortstop Thomas Field threw to third but hit Beckham in the back for an error, leaving runners at first and third base. Mike Sheridan reached on a fielder's choice, which did not produce an out, to load the bases for Henry Wrigley. The slugger bounced into a 6-4-3 doubleplay, plating a run to give the Hot Rods a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first, new starting pitcher Nick Barnese continued the bizarre start to the ball game. Making his first start of 2009 after being promoted from extended spring training, Barnese hit three batters in the first inning, giving up a single and a sacrifice fly to allow Asheville to score a run to cut the deficit to 2-1.
After that, both starting pitcher settled down. Barnese finished five innings, allowing just that one run. He surrendered three more hits, all doubles, in the third, fourth, and fifth innings. The Tourists, however, could not plate any of those base runners, going 1-9 with runners-in-scoring-position against Barnese. The 20-year-old righty finished his 2009 debut with seven strikeouts, leaving the game in line for a win.
That would change in the sixth inning as the Hot Rods, behind relief pitcher Michael Jarman (W; 4-4). In his first bullpen appearance of the season, Jarman gave up a lead-off bunt single in the sixth that was followed by three infield errors to cut the lead to 3-2. A fielder's choice plated a second run in the inning as Asheville tied it at 3-3. The Tourists would get another infield single in the inning before leaving the bases loaded on a strikeout by Carlos Martinez. In the frame, Asheville scored two unearned runs on two infield hits, three errors, and a fielder's choice.
It was in the top of the seventh that the Hot Rods would take the lead for good, albeit it on another unique play. Justin Reynolds hit a lead-off single and was then wild-pitched to second base by Houston (L; 1-4). Reynolds went two third two batters later when Anthony Scelfo reached on the fourth Asheville error of the night, leaving runners at the corners with only one out for Tim Beckham. Beckham hit a ball up the middle that looked like a 6-4-3, inning-ending double play. But, the relay throw from second to first was wild and allowed Reynolds to score the go-ahead run from third. Beckham picked up his team-high 30th RBI on the play but was thrown out at second base trying to advance on the wild throw on the DP.
DH Henry Wrigley did get credit for the only base hit that produce an RBI for the Hot Rods tonight. His third homer of the season with two-down in the eighth inning provided the game-winning RBI for the Hot Rods, giving them a 5-3 lead at the time. It was Wrigley's first homer in 52 at-bats, his first since homering against Savannah on May 14 at Bowling Green Ballpark.
The same fortune shone on the Tourists in the eighth inning as well, as David Christensen belted his team-leading ninth homer of the season, bringing the Tourists to within one run. Jarman retired the next two batters before Josh Satow closed the door with a 1-2-3 ninth for his fifth save of the season.
The three-game series continues on Saturday night from McCormick Field in Asheville, NC. The Hot Rods will send LHP Matt Moore (2-2, 3.89) to the mound against Tourists' righty Ethan Hollingsworth (3-3, 2.85). First pitch on is at 6:05 PM CDT. You can follow the action with Tom Gauthier on 1340 WBGN and www.bghotrods.com beginning at 5:50 PM CDT.
The Hot Rods return home after the trip to Asheville on Monday night for Military Night presented by No. 1 Country Beaver 96.7 FM. For tickets, visit www.bghotrods.com or head to the Hot Rods ticket office at the corner of 8th Avenue and Center Street at Bowling Green Ballpark.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 5, 2009
- Five Run First Enough for Hoppers - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Pitching Dominates in Braves Sweep - Rome Emperors
- Pitching Dominates in Braves Sweep - Rome Emperors
- Braves Sweep Jackets, Win Series - Augusta GreenJackets
- Hot Rods Take Opener in Asheville - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Drive's Road Trip Begins with 2-1 Loss in 10 Innings - Greenville Drive
- Legends Win in Tenth - Lexington Legends
- Crawdads Fall Short in Greensboro, 5-3 - Hickory Crawdads
- 'Dogs Take Finale, 5-3 - Savannah Sand Gnats
- RiverDogs Smack Sand Gnats, 5-3 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Sloppy Affair In Asheville - Asheville Tourists
- Intimidators Rained Out Again - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Power and Intimidators Rained Out-Again - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Suns and Caps Postponed Again - Hagerstown Suns
- Tonight's Shorebirds Game Postponed - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Tickets On Sale Saturday for "Baseball and Beers" at McCormick Field - Asheville Tourists
- Tonight's Game Postponed - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Friday Night Fireworks Postponed; Games Still On - Hagerstown Suns
- Bass Reels In South Atlantic League Player Of The Week Honors - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Suns To Showcase Pitching Pink Jerseys Saturday At The Greene Turtle - Hagerstown Suns
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
