The Bowling Green Hot Rods were unable to take advantage early, allowing Hickory to steal one late in the Crawdads’ 3-2 win on Thursday at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Bowling Green (47-36 overall, 11-6 second half) had traffic all night – going 5-for-14 with runners in scoring position, while stranding 10 runners – but only had a slim lead in the ninth. Hickory took advantage with a two run rally to make it two wins over the Hot Rods in the first three games of the six game series.

“That’s a situation where our hitters need to slow down the game a little bit better and understand that they’re not the ones in trouble. The pitcher is,” BG manager Rafael Valenzuela said. “It’s just one of those nights. I’m looking forward to those guys bouncing back tomorrow.”

The Hot Rods took the lead twice only to have Hickory answer back in its next at-bat both times.

Gregory Barrios delivered an RBI single that gave BG a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth, before Hickory 37-47, 9-9) tied it with a Gleider Figuero homer in the top of the sixth.

The Hot Rods got a leadoff double from Brock Jones in the seventh and had two runners on with one out, but left both runners in scoring position. One inning later BG got three straight singles – the last an RBI hit by Tatem Levins – to regain the advantage. The Hot Rods had a chance to add some insurance, but left the bases loaded and the score remained 2-1.

That opened the door for Hickory’s ninth inning rally. The Crawdads opened the ninth with three straight hits off reliever Drew Sommers. The left-hander struck out the next batter, with Hickory able to tie the score on a fielder’s choice by Marcus Smith.

Sommers was almost out of the inning, but Anthony Gutierrez took advantage of the lefty on the mound – breaking from home before Sommers delivered a pitch and sliding in easily for the game-winning run as BG would go in order in the bottom of the ninth.

“That was a phenomenal play by (Hickory),” Valenzuela said. “They took advantage of that. They exposed us tonight with that play. All credit to them.”

Bowling Green outhit Hickory 12-8. Four Hot Rods – Cooper McKinney, Colton Ledbetter, Brock Jones and Ryan Spikes – finished with two hits each with Kinney and Jones scoring one run each.

KEEP IT LOW

The three runs allowed by Bowling Green was the most in the month of July, with the Hot Rods allowing eight runs total in the previous nine games. The Hot Rods are still 8-2 in July, despite Thursday’s setback.

Valenzuela praised the work of his pitching staff in the last 10 games.

“I feel like they have got their confidence back and realize that if they are in the zone then they are better than most of the hitters in this league,” Valenzuela said. “Obviously they have been doing a good job and hopefully they can keep it going.”

FINDING YOUR WAY

Berrios continues to get acclimated to the Hot Rods, a week after being acquired by the Tampa Bay Rays in a trade that sent Aaron Civale to the Milwaukee Brewers.

The shortstop was previously with Wisconsin in the Midwest League prior to the trade. With Thursday’s 1-for-5 night he is 3-for-18 in four games with the Hot Rods.

“It’s got to be some sort of shock,” Valenzuela said. “I’ve never gone through that so I can’t share my experience, but he’s young. I believe he’s 20 and he’s still trying to get a feel for the team, for the league. It was really nice to see him go out there (and have success). He swung at the first pitch of the game and he lined out, but he is getting his confidence. I feel like it’s going to click and he’s going to move forward.”

UP NEXT

The series continues at 6:35 p.m. on Friday. Owen Wild (3-1, 3.00) is scheduled to start for the Hot Rods, with Ryan Lobus (3-4, 4.38) scheduled to start for Hickory.