South Bend Takes Series Finale from Bowling Green

South Bend, Ind. - The Bowling Green Hot Rods (Class-A/Tampa Bay Rays) could not avoid the big inning as they fell in the series finale to the South Bend Silver Hawks (Arizona Diamondbacks) on Friday night, 6-1. South Bend plated three runs in both the third and fifth inning to secure the series victory.

Elias Torres put the Hot Rods in front when he led off the top of the second inning. He blasted the first pitch of the inning over the left-center field fence to put Bowling Green in front, 1-0.

That lead would not stand for long as the Silver Hawks took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the third. Marty Herum led off the frame with a triple into the right-center field gap, and would score when D.J. Bowman followed with a single up the middle. After a groundout that moved Bowman up to second, he would come around to score on Chuck Taylor's base hit to left field. Fidel Pena moved Taylor up to second with a single, and they both advanced into scoring position on a groundout by Joe Munoz. The inning's scoring was completed when a wild pitch allowed Taylor to score.

The 3-1 advantage for the Silver Hawks would swell to 6-1 in the fifth. Andrew Velazquez started the rally with a double to left field. He would quickly score when Taylor followed with another single. After Pena singled, a wild pitch moved them both into scoring position. One out later, a wild pitch sailed to the backstop, and Taylor crossed the plate and scored. The rally was capped when Justin Williams singled to plate Pena.

Anthony Banda (6-6) worked the five-run lead to his advantage and received the win. Despite struggling at times, he allowed just one run on six hits while fanning six batters.

Bowling Green starter Isaac Gil (1-2) was solid early on but picked up the loss. He allowed six runs on nine hits before being replaced in the fifth inning. Andrew Hanse followed and was perfect in three and two-thirds innings.

The Hot Rods now head for home for the final homestand of the 2014 regular season. They will be pivotal games with Bowling Green in the playoff chase, and Saturday night's contest will get underway at 7:05 p.m. CT. A post-game concert by the Spazmatics will entertain the Bowling Green Ballpark crowd, and it's included in the ticket to the baseball game. The 2015 schedule calendar will also be given away as gates open at 6 p.m. CT. 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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