(WNFL) BOWLING GREEN, KY – The Bowling Hot Rods built a 3-0 lead and held off a desperate ninth inning rally by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Thursday night at Bowling Green Ballpark. Bowling Green edged the Rattlers 3-1.
The Hot Rods (48-41 overall, 11-9 second half) scored in the first inning. They had a runner at first with one out when Jordan Yamamoto walked three straight Bowling Green batters. A four-pitch walk to Zacrey Law forced in the runner from third for a 1-0 advantage.
The Timber Rattlers (44-47, 10-11) got a one out single in the first inning from Mitch Ghelfi off Bowling Green starting pitcher Blair Bivens. They also drew four walks against him. But, Bivens struck out seven over six shutout innings and allowed only the single to Ghelfi.The Rattlers best chance to score off Bivens came in the top of the fifth inning. Max McDowell and Juan Ortiz walked with one out. But, Sthervin Matos struck out on a 3-2 pitch with both runners going and McDowell was thrown out at third for the final out of the inning.In the sixth, the Hot Rods added to their lead. Brett Sullivan singled and Law doubled to start the inning. Kewby Meyer followed with a single to center that scored both runners for a 3-0 lead.Bowling Green reliever Tim Ingram came on for the seventh and retired the first seven batter he faced. Then, the Rattlers made it interesting in the ninth. Ghelfi singled with one out and Jake Gatewood singled with two outs. David Denson was hit by a 1-2 pitch from Ingram to load the bases and bring Tyler Brashears out of the Hot Rods bullpen.Luis Aviles worked the count full and fouled off a couple of pitches before drawing a walk to force in Ghelfi. McDowell was next and he hit a line drive right at centerfielder Angel Moreno for the final out of the game.Ghelfi went 2-for-4 on Thursday night. He is 16-for-25 (.640) in his last six games and 35-for-80 (.438) during the second half of the Midwest League season.
