In a race for the top spot in the South Atlantic League South Division first half, the Bowling Green Hot Rods are now in control – standing alone in first place with a 3-2 win over the Rome Emperors on Wednesday at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Less than 24 hours after opening the critical six game series with a walk-off winner, Bowling Green (33-26) again rallied late to slip past the Emperors and take the opening two games in the series. The win pushes the Hot Rods a game up on Rome in the division race with seven games remaining in the first half – four head to head.

“We had a conversation back in May and I specifically said that if you are going to buy stock in the Rods, start buying it now,” BG manager Rafeal Valenzuela said. “The guys have made the adjustments, and the thing that I do enjoy about this team is that, knowing what is at stake this week, they are not letting the game get too big. They are just playing their game. Good teams win, but good teams find a way to win those close games and we’ve done that the past two nights.”

The Hot Rods fought from behind all day before finally rallying late to secure a second straight win against the Emperors.

Rome (31-26) struck first with back to back doubles from Nick Ward and Dawson Dimon in the third.

The Hot Rods tied the score behind the legs of Brayden Taylor in the sixth. Taylor reached on a bunt single then proceeded to steal second and third. The Emperors had the infield in, but Taylor still scored on a ground out allowing BG to draw even.

Rome quickly answered in the top of the seventh. Jace Grady reached on an error and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Dimon.

BG tied it again on one swing by Colton Ledbetter, a solo homer to right. It was Ledbetter’s ninth of the season and fifth in four games.

“I’ve just been putting my faith over everything lately,” Ledbetter said of his recent power surge. “I’m just letting everything take care of itself how it should and trusting the Lord, also having some calmness in me. I have also been grounding a little bit, walking around barefoot in the outfield. It’s maybe a little crazy, but it’s been working. Just trying to have a little more calmness in the box.”

Taylor’s second bunt single of the day led to another run in the eighth as he moved to third on a single by Xavier Issac and scored what turned out to be the game-winner on a fly ball left by Tre’ Morgan.

“(Taylor) is a good baseball player and those are just good baseball plays,” Valenzuela said. “He took a look at the infield and they were giving it to him. He’s not too proud to lay it down. He laid two down which ended up being runs. Key at-bats from him. Just a ballplayer playing baseball.”

Jackson Lancaster earned the win in relief to improve to 1-1 on the season, while Derrick Edington pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his second save of the season for the Hot Rods.

Bowling Green finished with seven hits – two each from Taylor and Isaac.

“We knew coming into this week that it was going to be a race for first place,” Ledbetter said. “We are just going to take it a game at a time. It’s definitely big time winning the first two, taking a little bit of pressure off of us in the long run for the rest of the week.”

WILD THING

Bowling Green starter Owen Wild had his best outing yet since joining the Hot Rods from Charleston late last month. Wild worked six innings, allowing one run and four hits with a career high 12 strikeouts and one walk.

It is the third straight outing Wild has increased his strikeout total, striking out eight two starts ago against Wilmington and a then career high nine at Asheville on June 6.

“He’s getting comfortable,” Valenzuela said. “Obviously he is in a different league than Charleston was, but he’s getting very comfortable. He’s not afraid to pound the strike zone. He’s not afraid to attack. He works very well and very quick. That is definitely to his advantage.”

UP NEXT

The series continues at 6:35 p.m. on Thursday.

Right-hander Roel Garcia III (4-2, 5.01) is scheduled to start for the Hot Rods. Garcia is 0-1 with an 8.10 ERA in two June starts. He is 1-1 with a 7.25 ERA in five starts this season at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Right-hander Luis Vargas (1-0, 0.00) is scheduled to start for Rome. Vargas made his Rome debut on June 6, allowing three hits with seven strikeouts in six scoreless innings.