Hot Rods Accelerate Past Hawks 10-1

Left fielder James Harris circled the bases on a first-inning inside-the-park grand slam as the Bowling Green Hot Rods (16-22, 48-59) plated six runs in the first inning en route to a 10-1 win over the South Bend Silver Hawks (22-16, 62-45) on Wednesday night at Four Winds Field. Hawks starter Blake Perry (L, 5-4) lasted just two-thirds of an inning as he could not find the strike zone and the Hot Rods took advantage.

Bowling Green, the Class-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, did not waste any time taking a dominating lead over the Silver Hawks. Shortstop Pat Blair led off the inning by walking and then stealing second. He went to third on second baseman Kean Wong's ground out to the right side. Catcher Oscar Hernandez walked before Perry struck out third baseman Ty Young for the second out of the inning. Designated hitter Alexander Simon got Bowling Green on the board with a ground ball single to left that plated Blair for a 1-0 lead. First baseman Darryl George walked to load the bases and right fielder Julian Ridings worked the count full before also walking to force in a run and make it 2-0. That was the end of the night for Perry and Tom Jameson came in out of the pen to replace him. Harris went to a full count before lacing a liner up the middle. Center fielder Chuck Taylor made a diving effort at the ball but it skipped past his glove and rolled all the way to the wall, allowing Harris to clear the bases and head home himself with an inside-the-park grand slam. Perry finished the night allowing 5 earned runs on two hits and four walks in just two-thirds of an inning.

South Bend, the Class-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, struck back for a run in the bottom of the second inning. Third baseman Joe Munoz reached on a hit by pitch to lead off the inning. Catcher Michael Perez grounded out to second and Munoz advanced to second base on the play. Second baseman Jamie Westbrook then launched a double off the top of the left-field wall that scored Munoz and cut the lead to 6-1.

That was the closest the Hawks would get for the rest of the night as Chris Kirsch (W, 7-6) shut down the South Bend offense. After the second inning, he allowed just three batters to reach base and retired 19 out of 22 Silver Hawks following Westbrook's double. He threw eight dominant innings, allowing just one run on four hits and no walks while striking out four.

The Hot Rods padded their lead with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. In the top of the fifth, Wong led off and reached second on a throwing error by Munoz. He scored when Hernandez followed with a double off Jameson down the left field line that made it 7-1. Jameson pitched well out of the pen for the Hawks as he went 4 1/3 innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits. Adam Miller came on for the Hawks to start the sixth and gave up three consecutive hits and one run to start the inning. Ridings, Harris, and center fielder Spencer Edwards all singled to give Bowling Green an 8-1 lead.

Bowling Green continued to pour it on by adding two more run in the seventh. Wong led off with a single and with one out, Young was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Simon hit a tailor-made double play ball to third but Munoz threw high of second and into right field for his second error of the game. Wong scored on the play and Young went to third. George then grounded a single through the left side that scored Young for the tenth run of the game for the Hot Rods.

Jose Jose pitched the top of the eighth for the Hawks and worked around a two-out double by Wong for a scoreless inning. Will Locante entered in relief to pitch the ninth for South Bend and struck out the side after allowing a single to Young to start the inning. Kirsch exited the game after eight strong innings. Josh Kimborowicz entered for Bowling Green to pitch the ninth and he closed the game out quickly with a perfect inning for an 10-1 Bowling Green victory.

The Hawks and Hot Rods finish the series on Thursday night with first pitch scheduled for 7:05pm. Jaime Schultz (2-1, 1.87 ERA) will start for Bowling Green while Markus Solbach (2-1, 2.79 ERA) puts his 17.1 inning scoreless streak on the line for the Silver Hawks. It is Thirsty Thursday at Four Winds Field so come on out and enjoy $2 22 ounce sodas and 16 ounce beers all night long.