Alvarez Homers, Pitchers K 16 in 7-5 Loss

Dayton, OH- Bowling Green Hot Rods pitching struck out 16 Dayton Dragons and Roberto Alvarez homered in the Hot Rods 7-5 loss to the Dragons on Friday night at Fifth Third Field in Dayton. Bowling Green falls to 1-1 on the season and will play two games at home against the Dragons over the weekend, starting with a 6:35 PM first pitch on Saturday in the home opener.

The Hot Rods took an early lead for the second-straight night, getting to Dragons starter Jacob Heatherly in the top of the first inning. Ford Proctor led off with a walk and went to second when Wander Franco grounded out. Chris Betts moved Proctor to third with a single and both scored with two outs when Grant Witherspoon singled to right, giving the Hot Rods a 2-0 lead.
The Dragons took their first lead of the season in the bottom of the frame against Bowling Green righty Joe Ryan. Mariel Bautista worked a one-out walk and Michael Siani singled to center. In the next at-bat, Jay Schuyler homered to left to give the Dragons a 3-2 advantage.
Bowling Green tied the game in the third, sacrificing two outs for a run against Heatherly in his final inning of work. Proctor singled to center and went to third when Franco reached on an errant throw. Betts grounded into a double play, allowing Proctor to score and tie the game, 3-3.
The Hot Rods took the lead in the fourth on the club's first homer of the season against reliever Alexis Diaz. Alvarez took Diaz deep on his first pitch of the game, bashing the ball over the left-center field fence. The homer gave Bowling Green a 4-3 advantage, but it didn't last long.
In the bottom of the fourth Dayton tied and took the lead against Hot Rods reliever Christopher Gau. Schuyler bunted for a single to lead off the inning and scored when Miguel Hernandez doubled to left with one out, tying the game. Juan Martinez followed up with a single to center, giving Dayton a 5-4 edge.
Dayton added to their lead in the seventh with some key two-out hitting. Bautista tripled on the first pitch he saw from Nicholas Padilla, scoring on the next pitch when Siani singled to center to make it a 6-4 game.
Bowling Green came within a run in the eighth inning with some two-out hitting of their own. Alvarez singled to center with two outs and Bryce Brown was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Proctor singled to center field, scoring Alvarez, but Brown got caught in a run-down between second and third. He was eventually tagged out to end the inning with the Hot Rods trailing 6-5. Dayton added a run in the bottom of the eighth and Bowling Green went down in order in the ninth to take their first loss of the season, 7-5.
Ryan allowed three runs on two hits with a walk and seven strikeouts in a no-decision. Gau (0-1) took the loss, hurling an inning while allowing two runs on three hits with two strikeouts. Padilla went three innings, allowing one run on three hits with a walk and six strikeouts. Miguel Lara contributed an inning of work, holding Dayton to a run on two hits with a strikeout.
Notes: Hot Rods starters have combined for 16 strikeouts in the first two games of the season… The team has 30 strikeouts as a staff… Alvarez and Proctor both had their second multi-hit games of the season… Witherspoon has the team's first multi-RBI game of the year… Johnson has a hit in six consecutive games dating back to last season… Betts stole his first base since August 29, 2017 when he was with the GCL Rays… The Hot Rods are 94-68 all-time against the Dragons… The Hot Rods and Dragons continue their series on Saturday at Bowling Green Ballpark for the Hot Rods home opener… First pitch will be at 6:35 PM… The Hot Rods will send RHP Michael Plassmeyer to the mound against Dragons RHP Jhon De Jesus… It's Funtastic Saturday at Bowling Green Ballpark… The opening day festivities will begin at 4:00 PM with a Plaza Party in front of the stadium… The first 500 fans through the gates will receive a replica 2018 Midwest League Championship Ring… 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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