Santa Maria helps Hot Rods split series
Published 8:33 pm Sunday, August 30, 2026
Bowling Green Hot Rods third baseman Tony Santa Maria (15) slides safely past Asheville Tourists catcher John Garcia (13) to score a run in the Hot Rods’ 4-3 win over the Tourists at the Bowling Green Ballpark on Thursday, July 23, 2026.
(Grace McDowell / The Daily News)
Tony Santa Maria logged two doubles, driving in two runs, to help the Bowling Green Hot Rods to a 5-4 victory and secure a series split against the Winston-Salem Dash on Sunday at Truist Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The Hot Rods (79-45 overall, 32-27 second half) started strong with five runs in the top of the first inning against starting pitcher Drew McDaniel. Santa Maria uncorked a two-run double, Carlos Colmenarez slashed another two-run double and a McDaniel wild pitch plated Colmenarez for a 5-0 advantage.
Winston-Salem (69-56, 31-28) got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning against reliever Jonathan Russell. Nick McLain hit a solo home run to right field, making it 5-1 Hot Rods.
The Dash scored another run in the bottom of the fifth inning against Russell. Derek Cerda doubled to left field and score on a Javier Mogollon base knock to center field, pulling Winston-Salem’s deficit down to three.
The hosts put up one more run against Russell in the bottom of the sixth. Jeral Perez and McLain logged back-to-back doubles, with McLain scoring Perez to reduce Bowling Green’s advantage to 5-3.
Winston-Salem plated one run in the bottom of the ninth against reliever Jacob Hartlaub. Kaleb Freeman walked, Cerda was hit by a pitch and Ely Brown recorded an RBI single to right field to make it 5-4.
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Hartlaub shut the game down from there, stranding the tying run at third base for a 5-4 Bowling Green win.
Russell (3-1) received the win, hurling three innings, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out six batters. McDaniel (2-8) was given the loss, surrendering five runs on five hits, walking two and striking out two across four innings. Hartlaub earned the save, pitching two innings, allowing one run on two hits with one walk and one strikeout.
The Hot Rods begin their final series of the regular season against the Greenville Drive on Tuesday. First pitch at Bowling Green Ballpark is slated for 6:35 p.m.
