McGowan’s Slam Lifts Bootleggers to 7-2 Victory Over Dash

Bowling Green, Kentucky– Zack Trageton pitched five hitless, shutout innings and Jacson McGowan launched his third grand slam of the year in a 7-2 win for the Bowling Green Bootleggers (42-21) over the Winston-Salem Dash (26-37) on Thursday at Bowling Green Ballpark in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The two teams will play the fourth game of a six-game series on Friday with a 6:35 PM CT first pitch.

The Bootleggers took the lead in the bottom of the second inning against Winston-Salem starter Kaleb Roper. Evan Edwards and Blake Hunt worked back-to-back walks to lead off the inning. Both runners advanced on a base hit by Grant Witherspoon to load the bases. McGowan brought everyone home to score, crushing a grand slam over the right-field wall to give the Bootleggers a 4-0 edge.

Bowling Green added onto their lead in the third frame with Roper still on the mound. Pedro Martinez led off with a walk and advanced to second on a stolen base. One out later, Edwards launched a two-run homer to right-center. It was Edwards’ 10th homer of the season and pushed the Bowling Green advantage to 6-0.

Another run scored for the Bootleggers in the sixth inning, this time against Dash reliever Wilbur Perez. Jordan Qsar doubled, and one out later, Michael Gigliotti drove him in to score with a single. The hit was the first for Gigliotti in Bowling Green this season and pushed the Bootleggers lead to 7-0.

The Dash scored their only two runs of the game in the top of the seventh inning on a two-run homer from Alex Destino, cutting their deficit to 7-2. Carlos Garcia and Tanner Dodson shut down the Dash the rest of the way, securing the 7-2 victory.

Trageton (5-1) tossed 5.0 hitless innings, striking out three and walking one in his fifth win of the year. Garcia hurled 3.0 innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out four and earned his first hold of the season. Dodson pitched a scoreless final inning, holding the Dash to one hit while striking out two.

Notes: The Hot Rods tied the second-highest home run total in franchise history with 105… They’re one away from tying the franchise record, set in 2011 with 106… Witherspoon collected his ninth multi-hit game of the season… McGowan had his eighth multi-RBI game of the year… He also hit his team-leading third grand slam of 2021… He also became the seventh Hot Rods hitter with at least 10 homers in 2021… Edwards had his sixth multi-RBI game of the season… This win is the fourth-straight for Bowling Green… The Hot Rods are 21-10 in four-run games… BG is 29-16 against right-handed starters… Bowling Green starting pitchers are 14-9 this year… The Hot Rods are 26-12 when scoring first… They are 27-2 when outhitting opponents… The Hot Rods and Dash play the fourth game of a six-game series on Friday with a 6:35 PM CT first pitch… Bowling Green sends RH Michael Mercado (0-4, 6.31) to the mound against Winston-Salem’s RH Davis Martin (2-4, 4.73)… Fans can catch all of the action by watching on MiLB.tv or listening through the MiLB First Pitch app, tuning into WBGN 94.5 FM and 1340 AM, or visiting https://www.milb.com/bowling-green/fans/audio-listen-live.

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