Sasaki’s 4-hit game leads Hot Rods past Dash

Published 10:30 pm Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Shane Sasaki earned his second four-hit game of the year, creating a spark in the Bowling Green Hot Rods’ 10-2 win over the Winston-Salem Dash on Tuesday at Truist Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C.

The Hot Rods (49-43 overall, 18-13 second half) began the scoring in the top of the first off Dash starter Johan Dominguez. Sasaki tripled and scored on a wild pitch by Dominguez to make it 1-0.

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In the top of the second, Dominic Keegan led off with a double and came around to score on an RBI single from Blake Robertson to put the Hot Rods up 2-0.

The Bowling Green offense exploded in the top of the third off Winston-Salem reliever Kole Ramage. Keegan singled and Dru Baker walked to put runners on first and second. Kamren James blasted a three-run homer to right center field, increasing the lead to 5-0. After Robertson walked and Jalen Battles singled, Sasaki doubled to plate both runners and make it 7-0.

Winston-Salem (45-48, 11-18) scored their first run of the game off Bowling Green starter J.J. Goss in the bottom of the third. Jacob Burke was hit by a pitch and Wilfred Veras walked to put runners on first and second. Burke scored from second on an RBI single by Tim Elko to cut the deficit to 7-1.

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In the bottom of the seventh, Veras recorded another RBI single off Hot Rods reliever Keyshawn Askew to move the score to 7-2. 

In the top of the ninth, Bowling Green added some insurance against Winston-Salem reliever Vince Vannelle. Keegan and James logged back-to-back singles to put a runner in scoring position. Sasaki singled to left, moving James to third and scoring Keegan to make it 8-2. Brock Jones doubled in James and Sasaki to increase the lead to 10-2.

Hot Rods reliever Kyle Whitten tossed a scoreless ninth to carry Bowling Green to a 10-2 win.

Askew (8-6) earned the victory, allowing a run on two hits and seven strikeouts over three innings. Dominguez (0-2) took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits, two walks and three strikeouts.

The Hot Rods and the Dash play game two of a six-game series on Wednesday with first pitch set for 6 p.m. CT. Bowling Green is set to start right-hander Duncan Davitt (2-1, 3.55), while Winston-Salem starts lefty Tyler Schweitzer (0-2, 7.45).