Proctor, Whalen Lift Hot Rods to 4-3 Win in Finale

Geneva, IL- Ford Proctor had three hits for the third time in four games while Seaver Whalen hit a three-run homer and Shane Baz struck out eight as the Bowling Green Hot Rods defeated the Kane County Cougars 4-3 to avoid a sweep on Friday. The Hot Rods improve to 57-40 overall and 18-9 in the second half, beginning a three-game series with the Quad Cities River Bandits on Saturday beginning with a 6:30 PM CDT first pitch.

The Cougars took the field as the Atomic Pork Chops and took a second inning lead against Hot Rods starter Shane Baz. Dominic Fletcher led off with a double to left and went to third when Eddie Hernandez grounded out to first. Tim Susnara lifted a sacrifice fly to right, plating Fletcher to give the Cougars a 1-0 advantage.
The Hot Rods tied the game in the third against Kane County starter Adrian Del Morel. Ford Proctor led off with a single and stole second base. With one out, Jonathan Aranda connected with his second hit of the game, an RBI single to left-center to plate Proctor and even the score a one run a piece.
The Hot Rods took their first lead of the day in the fifth inning thanks to the long ball. Tony Pena worked a one-out walk and proctor singled to center, putting runners at the corners. Seaver Whalen blasted a 372-foot, three-run homer off reliever Ryan Miller to left to put the Hot Rods in front 4-1.
Kane County loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth against Baz, plating two, as Nick Padilla entered from the bullpen with two outs. Padilla struck out Hernandez for the final out of the inning, leaving the bases loaded while preserving a 4-3 lead. Padilla and reliever Michael Costanzo closed out the final four innings of the game, with both pitchers working through trouble but securing a 4-3 victory.
Baz worked 4.2 innings while allowing three runs on four hits with five walks and eight strikeouts. Padilla (6-2) earned the win after hurling 2.1 scoreless innings while holding the Cougars to one hit and a walk with three strikeouts. Costanzo earned his first save of the season, throwing two scoreless frames with two hits and three strikeouts.
Notes: Proctor extended his hit streak to four games… He had his third three-hit game in four contests… He's had five multi-hit efforts in his last nine games played… He leads the team with nine three hit games and 24 multi-hit contests… Whalen homered for the first time since June 27 against Great Lakes… Both of his home runs this season have been go-ahead homers… It was the 12^th home run hit during the fifth inning by a Hot Rod this season… BG has hit 12 homers in the first, fifth, and seventh innings which are the most of any inning… Whalen's long ball came with one out and was the 31^st of the season by a BG hitter with one out, more than any other situation… Whalen had his third multi-RBI effort of the year while also setting a new personal season-high… Erik Ostberg has a hit in three-straight games… Baz fell one-shy of his career-high strikeout total… He tied his career-high in walks with five (sent on July 12 against Beloit)… He's now reached five innings in eight of his 10 starts… The Hot Rods finish their 2019 regular season schedule with the Cougars 1-2… BG is 11-10 against the Western Division… They're also 9-7 wearing the grey jerseys… The Hot Rods at 17-16 in one-run games… They're also 19-24 when their opponent scores first… The Hot Rods begin a three-game series with the Quad Cities River Bandits on Saturday at 6:30 PM first pitch… Bowling Green will send RH Alan Strong (6-4, 3.31) to the mound to face Kane County RH Lupe Chavez (0-0, 2.25)… Fans can catch all the action with Shawn Murnin on Willie 107.9 FM, as well as, with their smart phones via the MiLB First Pitch app and TuneIn Radio app.
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Hot Rods Baseball