Fort Wayne Captures Series Finale from BG

Fort Wayne, Ind. - Nick Schulz collected five hits and drove in six runs to help lead the Fort Wayne TinCaps (Class-A/San Diego Padres) to a 12-3 win over the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Tampa Bay Rays) on Tuesday night. The victory gave the TinCaps the three-game series triumph.

The game did not start well for the Hot Rods, as they found themselves down 2-0 after a two-run home run by Fernando Perez in the first inning. An error allowed the frame continued, and Schulz added his first run batted in of the game to make it 3-0. The inning was capped when Rey Bruguera drove home a run finish the four-run frame.

Trea Turner helped spur a rally in the fourth by knocking a single through the left side. Ronnie Richardson followed with a double to right-center field. The extra-base hit sent home Richardson to make it 5-0 Fort Wayne. The TinCaps continued to apply pressure and plated an additional two runs in the fifth. Schulz hit a solo home run with two outs, and Turner would send home Bruguera with another single.

A grand slam by Schulz in the sixth put the game out of question for the TinCaps. With one out, Franmil Reyes drew a walk. Jake Bauers and John Nester followed with singles, and the bases were loaded. Schulz then homered to left-center field for a grand slam, his second round-tripper of the game. He finished his night with five hits, two home runs, and six runs driven home.

Willy Adames continued his hot hitting since being acquired by the Rays organization. He collected two doubles before a big swing put the Hot Rods on the board in the eighth. Following a double by Elias Torres and a walk to Spencer Edwards, Adames clubbed his second home run in a Bowling Green uniform. It sailed over the left-center field wall onto the lawn, and cut the lead to 11-3.

Fort Wayne would complete the game's scoring with a run in the bottom of the eighth to seal the game's final score of 12-3. It meant Fort Wayne captured the three-game series, but the Hot Rods did not lose ground in the Midwest League's Wildcard race. With Dayton losing, Bowling Green remains within shouting distance with six to play.

Jeffery Enloe (5-6) started for Fort Wayne and limited the Hot Rods to just two hits over six scoreless frames. He struck out four and issued one free pass. Ben Griset (2-8) conceded five runs, but just three were earned in the loss.

The Hot Rods now open another pivotal series on the road against the South Bend Silver Hawks (Arizona Diamondbacks) on Wednesday night. First pitch will be tossed at 6:05 p.m. CT. on 1340 WBGN - The Ticket. The Hot Rods return to Bowling Green Ballpark for the final three regular-season games of the campaign on Saturday, August 30. For tickets and more information on the club, fans can logon to BGHotRods.com, call 270-901-2121, or visit the Bowling Green Ballpark box office.

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