Bowling Green Hot Rods Lose 1-0 To Delmarva Shorebirds

[Via email from the Bowling Green Hot Rods' broadcaster Tom Gauthier.]

Nick Barnese threw another gem for the Hot Rods on Saturday night, tossing six innings of one run ball against the Delmarva Shorebirds (12-10, 48-43). That one run, however, was too much as Delmarva had three pitchers combined on a three-hit shutout in a 1-0 victory at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium. The win leaves the Hot Rods (13-9) with just their second losing streak in the second half. They now need to win the final two games of the series to split at Delmarva and earn a split on the eight-game trip.

Delmarva got its only run in the game thanks to a two-out, two-run homer by Joe Mahoney in the last of the third inning. Mahoney hit a 1-2 pitch from Barnese over the right field wall for his third long ball of 2009. For Barnese, it was just the second homer he allowed this season, the first since giving up a home run at Lexington on June 26.

That homer would be the only blemish on Barnese’s resume. Over six innings, the Hot Rods righty allowed just four hits, albeit one of them left the park on the home run by Mahoney. He struck out four while walking two. He also held the Shorebirds to just two hitless at-bats with men in scoring position.

Barnese’s strong start continued a positive second-half trend for Hot Rods starters. In 22 games starts have gone at least five innings and allowed three or fewer earned runs 14 times. In those 14 games starters have allowed just ten earned runs in 83.1 innings, good for a 1.08 ERA. For the entire second half Hot Rods starters have a 2.91 ERA having allowed just 39 earned runs over 120.2 innings.

For the second straight night Delmarva got quality work out of its starting pitcher as lefty Nathan Moreau worked six scoreless innings. He had just two perfect frames on the night but he gave up just three hits and one walk. He also added five strikeouts helping to extend his scoreless innings streak to 15.2 innings.

The series continues on Sunday night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Maryland. LHP Matt Moore (6-3, 2.87) draws the start against Delmarva lefty Cole McCurry (4-7, 3.49). First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 PM CDT. You can follow the game on the radio with Tom Gauthier at 1340 WBGN and www.bghotrods.com. Pre-game coverage begins at 4:50 PM CDT.

The Hot Rods return home to begin an eight-game home stand against the Northern Division on Wednesday, July 22. The Hagerstown Suns will be in Bowling Green to open the home stand with Hannah Montana/High School Musical Night and Feeding American Food Bank Night. First pitch is at 7:05 PM. For tickets, visit www.bghotrods.com or head to the Hot Rods ticket office at the corner of 8th Avenue and Center Street at Bowling Green Ballpark.