Seven-Run Eighth Clinches Second Half Championship

Bowling Green, KY - A seven-run eighth inning propelled the Bowling Green Hot Rods (43-26, 81-56) to a 9-4 win over the Lake County Captains (31-38, 54-82) on Sunday afternoon at Bowling Green Ballpark. The win clinches the Hot Rods first-ever Eastern Division Second Half Championship, the best overall record in the 2013 Eastern Division, and the most overall wins in franchise history.

Sunday's win sets up a first-round playoff matchup with the Fort Wayne TinCaps (Padres), who won the First Half Wild Card. Bowling Green Ballpark will host Game 1 of the Midwest League Eastern Division Quarterfinals on Wednesday night at 7:05 PM CDT. The Hot Rods, who also met the TinCaps in the playoffs in the 2011 first round, will then travel to Fort Wayne for Game 2 and 3 (if necessary).

In identical fashion as Saturday night, the Captains scored the game's first run in the top of the fourth inning only to see the Hot Rods tie the score in the bottom half. Tyler Goeddel began the inning with an infield hit and stole second base. Two batters later, Tommy Coyle flew a ball to centerfield that was dropped by Captain outfielder LeVon Washington and Goeddel scored.

The Hot Rods found themselves trailing 4-2 going to the bottom of the eighth inning but scored seven times. Coyle drove in the first run when Captain second baseman Nick MacPhee bobbled a ball. Marty Gantt, Ryan Dunn, and Andrew Toles consecutively drew bases loaded walks later in the inning to give the Hot Rods three more tallies.  

Three more runs came in on a Brandon Martin bases loaded hit-by-pitch, a Leonardo Reginatto sacrifice fly, and a Goeddel infield hit. In the impressive inning, which ties for the most runs ever scored in an eighth inning in franchise history, the Hot Rods benefited from five walks and a hit-batsmen.

The three-game series with the Lake County Captains (Indians) comes to a close Monday afternoon at Bowling Green Ballpark at 12:05 PM CDT. The Hot Rods will give the start LHP Bruedlin Suero (1-0, 1.69), while the Captains will counter with RHP Juan Santana (0-0, 0.00). Join Chris Kleinhans-Schulz on the Hot Rods Radio Network (1340wbgn.com, TuneIn app) with the Forever Communications Pregame Show beginning at 11:35 AM CDT.

Bowling Green Ballpark hosts the 2013 regular season finale on Monday afternoon at 12:05 PM CDT. It's the final game before the Hot Rods host Game 1 of the 2013 Midwest League Eastern Division Quarterfinals on Wednesday night at 7:05 PM CDT.For more information and to secure your tickets, call the Hot Rods Ticket Office at (270) 901-2121.

### Hot Rods Baseball - Fueled By Fun ###