Eighth Inning Surge Gives Hot Rods Win

Bowling Green, KY - Continuing their trek for a franchise-record in wins, the Hot Rods were fueled by an eighth-inning comeback and beat the Dayton Dragons by a score of 6-3 on Sunday afternoon at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Despite getting a RBI double by third basemen Kevin Padlo in the bottom of the first inning, the Hot Rods found themselves down by a score of 3-1 going into the bottom of the eighth inning while being held to just four hits.

Against two Dragons pitchers, the Hot Rods rolled off six hits in the inning and scored five runs to take the lead. What started off with one-out hits from Padlo and second basemen Brandon Lowe turned into RBI singles by outfielder David Olmedo-Barrera and first basemen Kewby Meyer to tie up the game. Later in the inning against righty Sarkis Ohanian, a two-run double by catcher Samm Wiggins and a RBI double from outfielder Landon Cray capped off the surge.

On the mound, Blake Bivens tossed a quality start, striking out seven batters while giving up three runs in six innings. It was the fifteenth consecutive start that Bivens has tossed more than five innings.

After Bivens left, Fernando Baez (W, 3-1) tossed two scoreless innings to get the win and righty Tim Ingram finished the game off in the ninth for his seventh save of the season.

Bowling Green (42-21) is now four games ahead of the South Bend Cubs for first place in the Midwest League Eastern Division for the second half.

With seven games left, the Hot Rods are three wins away from tying their franchise-record for most wins in a season (82) set in 2012 and are 10 runs away for tying their season record for runs scored (681) also set in 2012.

They are 39-16 over their last 55 games since July 1.

Against the Dragons, the Hot Rods have scored six or more runs in eight of the last nine games between the two teams.

Bowling Green will try to secure another series win with the final game of a four-game series against the Dayton Dragons on Monday morning. The Hot Rods will send Eduar Lopez to the mound.

First pitch is scheduled for 10:35 am.

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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