Witherspoon's Three-Run Homer Not Enough in 8-5 Loss

Great Lakes scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning, erasing a three-run homer from Grant Witherspoon and clutch eighth-inning hits from Wander Franco and Chris Betts to snap Bowling Green's seven-game winning streak. The Hot Rods fell to 32-21 ahead of the rubber game of the series, which will be on Thursday night with a 6:35 p.m. first pitch.

In the first inning, the Hot Rods struck first against Great Lakes starter Andre Jackson. Ford Proctor led off with an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error, which was followed by a walk to Franco. Following a fly ball and strikeout, Grant Witherspoon unloaded on a 1-1 pitch and crushed it off the right-field scoreboard for a three-run homer. His sixth homer of the season put the Hot Rods up 3-0.
After five innings of one-hit ball, Great Lakes finally struck against McClanahan in the sixth. After a one-out walk to Miguel Vargas, Jacob Amaya doubled to right, moving Vargas to third. Dillon Paulson followed with a ground ball to short, scoring Vargas. Niko Hulsizer followed by lofting a fly ball to right that Pena misplayed, allowing Amaya to score, making it 3-2, Bowling Green.
Cristopher Sanchez came on for the seventh and worked around a leadoff walk in the frame. However, he would not be as lucky in the eighth. Chris Roller led off with a triple off the right field wall. Vargas followed with a double down the right field line, scoring Roller to tie the game.
In the bottom of the inning, Proctor led off with a single, then moved to second on a wild pitch. Franco then dunked an RBI single into shallow left, scoring Proctor with the go ahead run. After Franco stole second, Betts lined a single to left-center, scoring Franco to make the score 5-3, Bowling Green.
In the ninth, though, Great Lakes mounted a rally against new pitcher Chris Muller. After Romer Cuadrado led off with a single, Outman and Luke Heyer both walked to load the bases with no one out. Roller followed with a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to one run. Vargas then singled into shallow center. Outman ran through a stop sign at third base and evaded Betts' tag to score the tying run. With two outs, Dillon Paulson launched a three-run homer just over the left-field wall, giving Great Lakes an 8-5 lead.
Bowling Green went down in order in the ninth against reliever Nathan Witt, ending their seven-game winning streak, while also surrendering first place in the Midwest League Eastern Division back to Great Lakes with the 8-5 defeat.
McClanahan went 6.0 innings, allowing two runs on three hits, while walking two and striking out seven in a no-decision. Sanchez went 2.0 innings, allowing a run on two hits, with one walk and one strikeout. Muller (0-4) went one inning, allowing five runs on five hits and three walks while taking the loss, in addition to his first blown save.
Notes: Proctor had his 14^th multi-hit game…Betts extended his hitting streak to six games…Johnson had a five-game hitting streak snapped…Witherspoon had his eighth multi-RBI game…He also has a five-game hitting streak…Franco has a six-game hitting streak…He also collected his sixth-straight two-hit contest, his 17^th multi-hit game and the 11^th in his last 14 games…Franco also stole two bases, the second time this season he's accomplished the feat (also April 17 vs. Lake County)…McClanahan went a career-high 6.0 innings and threw his first career quality start…The Hot Rods lost for the first time this season when leading after eight innings, having started 28-0…Bowling Green starting pitchers have made 19-consecutive starts (since May 12) without taking a loss… Bowling Green is 18-9 at home…BG is 26-13 against right-handed starters…The Hot Rods will play the rubber game against Great Lakes on Thursday night with a 6:35 p.m. first pitch…RHP Alan Strong (4-1, 1.94) will start for the Hot Rods, against Great Lakes RHP Zach Willeman (0-1, 7.27)…It is Bootlegger Thursday, featuring $1 and $2 beer specials…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