Bautista, Dragons Silence Hot Rods
Bowling Green, KY - After rolling off a five-game series sweep at Classic Park and clinching their first postseason berth since 2013, the Bowling Green Hot Rods returned home to a 9-0 loss at the hands of the Dayton Dragons on Friday night.
Coming off a night where they tied season-highs with 14 runs scored and 18 hits, the Hot Rods were stifled all night by Dragons starting pitcher Wendolyn Bautista (L, 0-1).
By limiting the Hot Rods to four hits without a run in nine innings, Bautista tossed the first nine-inning complete-game shutout against the Hot Rods in franchise history. He did it on 100 pitches, without a walk.
Offensively, the Dragons scored a run in the first against Hot Rods starter Mike Velasquez (L, 7-9) and then tacked on two runs in each of the second, third, fourth and sixth innings.
Dayton was paced by third basemen Nick Senzel, who drove in the first run of the game on a RBI double. The #2 overall pick in the 2016 MLB draft had two doubles on the night, leading a collection of four Dragons players who had two hits or more.
For the Hot Rods, outfielders Zacrey Law and Manny Sanchez along with infielders Kewby Meyer and Matt Eureste were the only players to have a hit.
With the loss, the Hot Rods six-game win streak was snapped. They were shutout for the first time since June 23.
Bowling Green (40-21) is still two games ahead of the South Bend Cubs for first place in the Midwest League Eastern Division for the second half. Their magic number to clinch home-field advantage for the first round of the playoffs is still at one, and can be clinched with another Hot Rods win or a loss by the Great Lakes Loons.
Bowling Green is 37-16 over their last 53 games since July 1.
Bowling Green will try secure home-field advantage in the first round with the second game of a four-game series against the Dayton Dragons on Saturday night. The Hot Rods will send RHP Roel Ramirez to the mound.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 pm.
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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