Hot Rods Win Slugfest At Parkview Field [VIDEO]
FORT WAYNE – Bowling Green’s offense jumped on the TinCaps early, as the Hot Rods rolled to a 14-7 win over Fort Wayne on Thursday night at Parkview Field.
The Hot Rods (34-32) scored three in the first, four in the third, four in the seventh and three in the eighth to thump the TinCaps (36-31), who threatened with a four-run ninth inning.
With the loss as well as wins by South Bend and West Michigan, the TinCaps cannot clinch a first-half playoff spot in the Midwest League’s Eastern Division.
TinCaps center fielder Michael Gettys rapped an RBI double in the first, and third baseman Carlos Belen added an RBI groundout to make it a 3-2 deficit after one, but that’s as close as Fort Wayne would get.
Down 7-2 in the fourth, left fielder Tyler Moore stroked an RBI single to right field.
In the ninth, first baseman Ty France cracked a two-run double into the left-field corner and later scored on a two-run home run by designated hitter Brad Zunica.
France, who went 3-for-4 with a walk, also pitched a scoreless top of the ninth. The corner infielder has now pitched four scoreless innings this season. France played three seasons at San Diego State, the first two under Tony Gwynn, the Hall of Famer and former Padre who passed away two years today at the age of 54.
Hot Rods right-hander Blake Bivens (W, 3-1) allowed three runs in five innings. TinCaps southpaw Thomas Dorminy (L, 0-1) surrendered seven runs (four earned) in five frames.
The two teams resume the series Friday at 7:05 p.m. at Parkview Field.