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Sheridan Leads Hot Rods Past Braves on Monday Night

June 1, 2009

(Bowling Green, KY) - Hot Rods first baseman Mike Sheridan hit a two-run homer in the first and added an RBI single in the eighth to propel the Hot Rods (24-26) past the Rome Braves 7-4 on Monday at Bowling Green Ballpark. Sheridan's big night helped the Hot Rods end a season-long six-game losing streak, avoiding their first sweep of the season in the process. The victory also gives them momentum heading into a three-game series with in-state rival Lexington on Tuesday night.

Riding the six-game skid, the Hot Rods wasted little time scoring first in Monday night's game. With two outs and Tim Beckham at second base, LF Kyeong Kang smacked his seventh double into the right-center field gap to give Bowling Green a 1-0 lead. A few pitches later Sheridan, the Koch Air Hottest Hitter, drove his team-leading 6th home run into the night beyond the right field wall to bump the lead to 3-0. Sheridan picked up his 19th and 20th RBI on the long ball, leaving him in third place among Hot Rods hitters.

Bowling Green stayed hot against Rome starter Randall Delgado (L; 1-5) in the last of the second inning. After the Braves scored two unearned runs off lefty Matt Moore (ND), Delgado loaded the bases with the first three hitters in the second. Anthony Scelfo came through with a sacrifice fly to deep center to plate the first run before Beckham and Jake Jefferies each picked up their 27th RBI in consecutive at-bats to give the Hot Rods a 6-2 lead.

The early offensive support helped Moore, who turned in one of his better outings despite lasting just four innings. He allowed two unearned in the second on a bases-loaded, two-out single by Rome LF Jahdiel Santamaria. One inning later C Jesus Sucre doubled, went to third on a passed ball, and scored on an RBI ground-out by Stephen Shults for another unearned run. Moore finished only four innings but allowed just three unearned runs on four hits. He struck out six and walked a season-low one in the no-decision.

Chris Andujar (6-2) earned the win for the Hot Rods, pitching four innings, allowing one run on two hits, one of those being a home run by Rome CF Chris Shehan. The Koch Air Coolest Pitcher, Andujar struck out three without issuing a walk and is now tied for the second most wins with a handful of other pitchers in the South Atlantic League.

The Hot Rods final tally came in the eighth inning when Kang tripled into the right field corner before scoring on Sheridan's single to right field. For Kang, he had a double and a triple, giving him 10 extra-base hits in his first 16 games in a Hot Rods uniform. Sheridan picked up his second 3-RBI game of the season and is now hitting .323 (10-31) since May 22.

The Hot Rods now continue their seven-game homestand with a three-game set against in-state rival Lexington on Tuesday night. Game one will feature the return of RHP Shane Dyer (0-3, 3.98) from the disabled list. He'll face Lexington RHP Robert Bono (5-1, 1.98). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM CDT. You can follow the action with Tom Gauthier on 1340 WBGN and www.bghotrods.com beginning at 6:50 PM CDT. For tickets, visit www.bghotrods.com or head to the Hot Rods ticket office at the corner of 8th Avenue and Center Street at Bowling Green Ballpark.