Zeleski Walkoff Sends Hot Rods to Loss
Fort Wayne, IN - Continuing a four-game series at Fort Wayne TinCaps, the Bowling Green Hot Rods lost on a walkoff single in the ninth inning by a score of 2-1 on Saturday night at Parkview Field.
Over the course of the first eight innings, the two offenses combined for just one run. That run came in the bottom half of the second inning, as outfielder Manny Sanchez lifted a sacrifice fly that score first basemen Kewby Meyer to give the Hot Rods a 1-0 lead.
Bowling Green was able to hold the lead until the ninth inning with another marvelous start from starting pitcher Jose Mujica. In his seventh straight quality start, Mujica blanked the TinCaps through seven innings, giving up just five hits without surrendering a walk. The 20-year-old righty threw 82 pitches with an astounding 66 strikes.
Overall, the 20-year-old righty now has a 1.40 ERA since July 1, giving up just seven runs in 45.0 innings over the course of seven starts.
Unfortunately, the lead for the Hot Rods and Mujica would not hold.
In the bottom of the ninth, a leadoff single and a throwing error by relief pitcher Tim Ingram (L, 1-2) put runners on first and third with no outs. After a sacrifice fly tied up the game at 1-1, back-to-back singles from third basemen Carlos Belen and first basemen Brad Zunica gave Fort Wayne the bases loaded with one out.
One batter later, pinch-hitter Tyler Zeleski laced a single into left-field to score Peter Van Gansen to end the ballgame.
With the loss, the Hot Rods have now dropped two straight games after winning nine straight games on the road.
Overall, the Hot Rods are still 23-7 in their last 30 games, but are now in second place in the Midwest League Eastern Division standings for the second half. They are 0.5 games behind the South Bend Cubs.
Bowling Green will finish a four-game roadtrip against the Fort Wayne TinCaps at Parkview Field on Sunday. The Hot Rods will send Michael Velasquez to the mound while the TinCaps will counter with Jacob Nix.
First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 pm. All the games during the road swing will be played in eastern time.
You can also listen in to Play-by-Play Broadcaster Alex Cohen for all the games on www.bghotrods.com via the MLB TuneIn Radio Application or on 1340 The Ticket in Southcentral Kentucky.
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