Hot Start Not Enough as Hot Rods Fall to Dash in Extra-Innings

Winston-Salem, North Carolina – Tony Santa Maria drove in three runs, including a two-run homer, but a late collapse ended in a 9-8, extra-innings loss for the Bowling Green Hot Rods (0-1) against the Winston-Salem Dash (1-0) in the first game of the SAL Divisional Series on Tuesday at Truist Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

The Hot Rods got the scoring started in the top of the second inning against Dash starter Drew McDaniel. Narciso Polanco tripled, and Ryan McCoy singled him home, giving the Hot Rods a 1-0 lead. Brendan Summerhill singled, and Ricardo Gonazlez doubled, scoring McCoy to make it a 2-0 advantage.

Bowling Green added to the lead in the top of the third inning against McDaniel. With one out, Ryan Cermak and Polanco doubled, making it 3-0. One out later, Summerhill blasted a two-run homer to right, creating a 5-0 Bowling Green edge.

Another run came around to score for the Hot Rods in the top of the fourth against Dash reliever Frankeli Arias. Gonazlez doubled and advanced to third on a Jhon Diaz groundout. Santa Maria singled in Gonzalez, increasing the lead to 6-0.

Winston-Salem plated five runs in the bottom of the fourth against Bowling Green starter Trevor Harrison. James Taussig hit a two-run homer, and Braden Holcomb added a three-run shot later in the inning, trimming the Bowling Green lead to 6-5.

The Hot Rods produced another two runs in the top of the sixth on a two-run homer by Santa Maria, bringing the score to 8-5.

The Dash scored for the first time since the fourth inning in the bottom of the ninth against the Hot Rods bullpen. Holcomb reached on a Narciso Polanco fielding error, and Rylan Galvan walked, putting runners at first and second. With two outs, Javier Mogollon hit a game-tying home run, evening the score at 3-3 to force extra innings.

Bowling Green failed to score in the top of the tenth, giving way to Winston-Salem in the bottom half. Taussig started as the extra-innings runner at second, and with one out Nick McLain hit a walk-off double to right-center, ending the game 9-8 in favor of Winston-Salem.

Carlton Perkins (1-0) earned the win, pitching 1.0 perfect inning with one strikeout. Jadon Bercovich (0-1) was given the loss, surrendering one unearned run on one hit while recording one out.

The Hot Rods and Dash play game two of the SAL Divisional Series at Bowling Green Ballpark with a 6:35 PM CT first pitch on Thursday. Bowling Green will send out RHP Jonathan Russell (3-1, 4.30) against Winston-Salem LHP Grant Umberger (11-7, 4.70).

Fans can catch all the action by watching on MiLB.tv, listening through the MiLB First Pitch App and BGHotRods.com. Fans can also secure their seats for future home Hot Rods games by calling (270) 901-2121, visiting the Bowling Green Ballpark box office during normal business hours, or going to www.bghotrods.com.

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Hot Rods Baseball