Hot Rods score season-high 14 runs in win against Dash
Published 10:50 pm Tuesday, May 21, 2024

- Bowling Green Hot Rods outfielder Brock Jones (7) makes contact with a pitch at Bowling Green Ballpark Sunday, May 19, 2024 in the rubber match between the Hot Rods and Brooklyn Cyclones. (Daily News photo by Joe Imel/joe.imel@bgdailynews.com)
Tre’ Morgan logged a four-hit game and Xavier Isaac blasted his team-leading eighth homer of the year, helping the Bowling Green Hot Rods score a season-high 14 runs in the 14-4 win over the Winston-Salem Dash on Tuesday at Truist Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The Hot Rods (22-18) struck first in the top of the first inning against Dash starter Tanner McDougal. Brayden Taylor walked, and Morgan doubled to left center, scoring Taylor from first putting Bowling Green ahead, 1-0.
Winston-Salem (19-21) answered in the bottom of the second off Hot Rods starter Roel Garcia lll. Shawn Goosenberg singled and Calvin Harris walked to put runners on first and second. Goosenberg stole third, and an errant throw to third by Garcia allowed him to score making it a 1-1 game.
Bowling Green responded with McDougal still pitching. Isaac launched a solo shot to right, giving the Hot Rods a 2-1 lead. The Hot Rods continued their tear against Dash reliever Manuel Veloz. Bowling Green scored a season-high seven runs in the top of the fifth highlighted by a Brock Jones two-RBI double and a Elis Barreat triple, making it a 9-1 Hot Rod lead.
Bowling Green plated four more in the top of the sixth against Winston-Salem pitcher Shane Drohan. This time the big inning was highlighted by a Ricardo Genoves double to center, scoring another run, making it 13-1.
Winston-Salem found life in the bottom of the sixth against Bowling Green reliever TJ Fondtain. Calvin Harris walked, Chris Lanzilli singled, Jordan Sprinkle singled, a sacrifice fly from Samuel Zavala scored one and Loidel Chapelli doubled to score two more, cutting into the Hot Rods’ lead, 13-4.
The Hot Rods tallied more insurance in the top of the ninth against Dash reliever Frander Veras. Morgan reached on a Sprinkle throwing error, Colton Ledbetter doubled and Hunter Haas lifted a sacrifice fly to left, helping score Morgan to give Bowling Green a 14-4 advantage.
The Dash went scoreless in the bottom of the ninth, ending in a 14-4 Hot Rods victory.
Garcia (3-1) picked up the win after pitching five innings, allowing five hits and one unearned run while striking out four. McDougal (0-2) was handed his second loss of the season, going three innings, surrendering two runs and striking out four.
The Hot Rods and Dash play the second game of a six-game series on Wednesday with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. CT. Duncan Davitt (3-2, 3.32) is set to get to start on the mound for Bowling Green, while Tyler Schweitzer (2-2, 4.08) will get the start for the Dash.