BG blanks Fort Wayne
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Bowling Green pitcher Jason McEachern made a triumphant 2011 home debut Tuesday as the Hot Rods remained red-hot in Bowling Green Ballpark – blanking Fort Wayne (Ind.) 3-0 in the opener of a four-game series.
McEachern tossed six shutout innings and Julio Cedeno hit his third homer of the homestand to help Bowling Green (60-47, 19-18) win its fourth straight and improve to 38-16 at home this season. It’s the Hot Rods’ 12th win in the last 13 games at home.
“I thought it was our best game in the second half,” BG manager Brady Williams said. “Defensively, base running wise, pitching wise – we were outstanding. (Our pitchers) really pitched nice. … McEachern set the tone.”
McEachern, who pitched all of 2010 for the Hot Rods, scattered four hits, walked one, hit a batter and recorded three strikeouts. Two of those strikeouts came in the fourth when Fort Wayne (49-57, 19-18) got a runner at third with one out.
“I felt good,” McEachern said. “Me and (catcher Keith Castillo) were on the same page the entire time – from the first pitch to the last. I located the fast ball well, which opened up a lot. It really went my way today.”
After McEachern worked out of trouble in the fourth, Cedeno gave him all the offense he needed, leading off the bottom of the inning, crushing a solo home run to dead center field that hit the yellow line on the top of the fence and bounced straight up in the air.
“Not too many guys have gone out there,” Williams said. “I feel good for Julio. I think he’s figured some things out at the plate.”
Bowling Green added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth. Derek Dietrich tripled to lead off the inning and scored on Phil Wunderlich’s single to left, his 72nd RBI of the season. Pinch runner Kevin Kiermaier used his legs to get the final run – stealing second, moving to third on a throwing error by the catcher and coming home on a wild pitch.
Bowling Green’s bullpen finished it off, with Nate Garcia tossing two scoreless innings and Chris Rearick closing it out for his 16th save of the season.
Dietrich had three hits to pace the offense, while Wunderlich added two hits.
Bowling Green will look to run its win streak to five when the series continues tonight at 6:35. Right-hander Eliazer Suero (6-4, 4.58 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Hot Rods. Righty Ady Portillo (2-10, 6.82 ERA) is slated to start for Fort Wayne.
NOTES — Prior to the game, the Hot Rods announced Alejandro Torres had been promoted to High A Port Charlotte (Fla.) in the Florida State League, with catcher Mayo Acosta coming to Bowling Green from Charlotte. … Acosta was originally in the starting line-up, but was a late scratch due to travel issues. … Former Hot Rod Matt Moore threw five shutout innings with nine strikeouts, improving to 2-0 with Triple A Durham (N.C.) in the Bulls’ 16-3 win Tuesday. Moore has made three starts for Durham, allowing one run and nine hits in 18 innings with 29 strikeouts and five walks.