Bats Come Alive Along Lake Erie

Eastlake, OH - The Hot Rods pounded out ten hits on Friday night, including an RBI double by Ryan Wiegand, but they couldn't overcome a lack of execution in a 5-3 loss to the Lake County Captains. Bowling Green stranded 11 men on base in losing the final two games of the series. However, they remain five games out in the playoff chase as both West Michigan and Lansing lost.

The Hot Rods scored first in the game getting a run in the top of the fifth inning once both starting pitchers had exited. Facing reliever Vidal Nuno, Julio Cedeno reached on a double to left before taking third on a single from Tomas Francisco. After a failed sacrifice attempt saw Cedeno thrown out at the plate, Dustin Biell singled to load the bases for Tyler Bortnick. The Hot Rods second baseman got plunked on the left arm to force in the first run of the game for a 1-0 lead.

That lead was short-lived as relief pitcher Merrill Kelly entered the game for Wilking Rodriguez in the bottom of the fifth. Kelly struck out the first batter of the inning before running into trouble with a walk and two hit batters. Captains third baseman Adam Abraham made him pay for his wildness by lacing a bases-clearing double to center to rally Lake County in front, 3-1.

The Hot Rods answered right back in the sixth getting a run off of Francisco Jimenez. With one out Mark Thomas doubled and then took third on a groundout. After Francisco walked, Estrada drove home Thomas with an infield single to cut the deficit to 3-2.

An inning later Bowling Green tied it up against Jimenez. With one out, Ty Morrison singled, stole second, and took third on a wild pitch. After Brett Nommensen struck out, Ryan Wiegand brought Morrison home by lacing a double into the left field corner to tie the game at 3-3. The Hot Rods then nearly took the lead on a Mark Thomas single, but Wiegand was thrown out at home plate to end the inning.

That play at the plate proved to be huge as the lead-off batter in the bottom half of the frame put the Captains back on top. Casey Frawley took a Scott Shuman fastball and belted it to deep left field giving Lake County a 4-3 lead.

The Hot Rods wouldn't go away, though, putting the first two men on base in the top of the eighth inning. But, for the second time in the game, the Hot Rods bunted into an out with a failed sacrifice. Dustin Biell and Bortnick both followed with groundouts to strand runners at second and third to end the frame.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Captains put the game away by adding another run against Shuman on a pair of walks and a two-out single by Delvi Cid. Jose Flores then put the game away in the by retiring three of the four Hot Rods in the ninth.

Rodriguez did not factor into the decision for the Hot Rods, reaching his pitch limit after four shutout innings. He allowed three hits, walked two, and struck out five in his second start since coming off the disabled list. In those two starts, he has been effective allowing one run on five hits over 8.1 innings (1.08 ERA).

Lake County starter Jason Knapp also took a no-decision after throwing four no-hit innings. The righty allowed just two while striking out seven in his first game in the Midwest League this season.

The Hot Rods now continue the road trip with the start of a four-game series against the South Bend Silver Hawks (Arizona Diamondbacks) on Saturday night. RHP Jason McEachern (4-11, 5.40) takes the ball against South Bend RHP Diogenes Rosario (4-7, 4.38). First pitch is at 4:30 PM CDT. You can listen to the game with Tom Gauthier beginning at 4:15 PM CDT on 1340 AM WBGN and www.bghotrods.com.

The Hot Rods return home for the final home stand of 2010 on Wednesday, August 25. The home stand is kicked off by Kids Eat Free Night presented by Dietz & Watson. All kids 12 & under get a hot dog, bag of chips, and a drink for absolutely FREE. To order tickets and see the list of complete promotions for the final seven home games, visit www.bghotrods.com.