Sheridan Blast Sends RiverDogs to the Pound

(Bowling Green, KY) - In front of 3,549 two-legged fans, as well as hundreds of the four-legged variety, Mike Sheridan broke a 2-2 tie with his tenth home run of the season in the last of the seventh inning to spark the Hot Rods (9-4, 43-40) to a 6-2 win over the Charleston RiverDogs (6-8, 45-39) on Wednesday night. Sheridan's homer made a winner out of Chris Andujar (9-2) on Bark at the Ballpark presented by Hill's Pet Nutrition, a night where fans brought their dogs to root on the Hot Rods at Bowling Green Ballpark.

The seventh inning rally began with Sheridan's homer to break the 2-2 tie after Andujar had given up a 2-1 lead in the top half of the inning. Andujar came on for Matt Moore (ND) and surrendered a lead-off home run to Mitch Abeita in the top of the seventh. The homer was the fifth given up by Andujar, who was also tagged with his second blown save of the season. After the homer, Andujar buckled down and allowed just one hit and one walk over the final three innings.

Once the RiverDogs tied it, Sheridan knocked out the home run to spark a three-run seventh. With one down Justin Reynolds singled to left field, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and eventually came around to score on a two-out double by Anthony Scelfo to push the lead to 4-2. Scelfo scored a few pitches later on a throwing error on a Robi Estrada ground out to make it 5-2 Bowling Green.

That title could've been shared by Sheridan and Kyeong Kang, who also homered in the game. His one-out blast in the bottom of the fourth was his second of the season and it had given the Hot Rods a 2-1 cushion as Moore was rounding into dominant form.

Moore began the game allowing a run on two hits in the first inning followed by a scoreless second inning where he stranded two more base runners. After that, however, he started to rack up the strikeouts while setting down 13 in a row. He finished six innings, retiring 14 of the final 15 hitters he faced. He ended with six strikeouts in six innings while not issuing a walk for the first time this season.

The Hot Rods answered Charleston's first inning strike with a run of their own. Scelfo led off with a double, advanced to third on a ground out, and, after a Jake Jefferies walk, scored on a wild pitch to Kang. Scelfo earned Koch Air Hottest Hitter of the Game honors, finishing 3-4 with his 23 RBI and two doubles.

The series continues on Thursday night with another Thirsty Thursday presented by No. 1 Country Beaver 96.7 FM and All Hit WUHU 107. First pitch is at 7:05 PM. Gates open at 5:30 PM for season ticket holders and 6 PM for the general public. For tickets, visit www.bghotrods.com.

The pitching match-up for Thursday features RHP Shane Dyer (1-6, 5.07) for the Hot Rods against Charleston lefty Manny Banuelos (7-3, 2.20). You can also follow the game on the radio with Tom Gauthier at 1340 WBGN and www.bghotrods.com. Pre-game coverage begins at 6:50 PM.