Hot Rods Take Finale, Series at Dayton

Dayton, OH -- On Friday, the Hot Rods finished off a rain-altered, series victory against the Dayton Dragons with a 12-4 win at Fifth Third Field. 
Following a pregame rain delay of two hours and fifteen minutes, Hot Rods bats broke out again for the third straight night, scoring at least a run per inning from the second inning to the sixth inning, starting in the second against Dragons starter Tony Santillan (L, 9-8) with a RBI groundout from infielder Jim Haley.

 
After a sacrifice fly by outfielder Jesus Sanchez in the third inning, Bowling Green scored three runs in the fourth inning, helped two of the six errors of the night from the Dragons defense and a two-run single by outfielder Garrett Whitley .

 
Bowling Green tacked on another run on an error in the fifth inning and their final five runs in the sixth inning on a pair of RBI double from catcher Rene Pinto and a trio of RBI singles from infielder Miles Mastrobuoni, first basemen Bobby Melley and Sanchez. 

 
For Sanchez, his two RBI gives him 82 runs batted in for the season, surpassing Derek Dietrich (2011) and Brett Sullivan (2016) for 2nd most in a second-most RBI in a single season in franchise history. Phil Wunderlich holds the record with 86, set back in 2011. 

 
Starting pitcher Adrian Navas (W, 12-9) dazzled in yet another second half start, giving up just two runs on three hits in six innings with nine strikeouts. His 12 wins are the second-most in a season in team history and the most for the Hot Rods since Victor Mateo won 12 games in 2011. 

 
To secure the victory for Navas and Bowling Green, righty Deivy Mendez tossed two scoreless frames and Greg Maisto tossed the ninth to end the game.

 
Offensively, the Hot Rods bats scored 26 runs on 42 hits in the final three games against Dayton after being outscored 34-9 and totaling just 33 hits during the first seven games of the roadtrip.

 
With the win, the Hot Rods can now clinch their second straight playoff berth with one win against the South Bend Cubs over the final three games of the season. 
 
On Saturday, the Hot Rods will begin that three-game series based upon immense playoff implications with the South Bend Cubs at Bowling Green Ballpark. 
Bowling Green will send RHP Willy Ortiz to the mound with a playoff berth on the line while the Cubs will send a pitcher to the mound that is yet to be determined. 
 
First pitch is at 6:35 PM. 
 
You can also listen in to Play-by-Play Broadcaster Alex Cohen for all the games on www.williecountry.com (Click on BG Listen Live) or on AM 1340 and 97.1 Willie in Southcentral Kentucky.
 
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