The offense continued to shine for the Bowling Green Hot Rods, who opened a three-game series against Kane County (Ill.) with a 7-4 win Friday at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Bowling Green (11-11) scored at least seven runs for the fifth time in 10 homes games this season, improving to 7-3 at Bowling Green Ballpark and bouncing back from a 6-3 loss to Clinton (Iowa) on Thursday.

“That was a good win after a tough game last night,” BG manager Reinaldo Ruiz said. “We bounced back and played better tonight and was (able to) get the win.”

Kane County (12-9) got an unearned run in the top of the first off BG starter Henry Centeno, but the Hot Rods took control in the bottom of the second with a five-run rally to snap Kane County pitching’s 24-inning scoreless streak.

Kevin Padlo had the big hit of the rally, a three-run home run to left for his second home run of the season and his first since opening night.

“That was a key at-bat for him,” Ruiz said. “He hit that ball hard. He’s been swinging the bat better. He was working earlier with our hitting coach and he’s doing a better job. He’s hitting second so he can see more fastballs. Hopefully he can continue to swing the bat better.”

The Cougars scratched across runs in the fifth and the sixth, but Manny Sanchez’s RBI single capped a two-run seventh that gave the Hot Rods some breathing room.

Kane County got a run in the ninth and had the tying run at the plate with two outs, but Ian Gibaut struck out Zach Nehir to preserve the victory.

Centeno earned the win to improve to 2-0 on the season. The right-hander allowed two runs – one earned – on six hits with a walk and six strikouts in 5 2/3 innings. Centeno has allowed two earned runs in 23 innings of work this season.

“He did a great job,” Ruiz said. “He was lights out tonight. Every time we have a starter going five or six innings we are going to have a chance.”

Padlo had three hits, while Sanchez, Brandon Lowe and Peter Maris had two hits each.

Bowling Green is averaging 6.1 runs a game at home.

“We’ve been swinging the bats well,” Padlo said. “We have a lot of guys with talent. We are just having a good time, listening to music and joking around with each other. We have good chemistry as a team, so it’s been fun.”

NO STEAL ZONE

Catcher Brett Sullivan kept the base paths clear Friday, shutting down the Cougars’ running game. Kane County runners were caught stealing on all three attempts. Sullivan entered the night with base runners successful 11-for-13 on stolen base attempts.

“He was part of our great night that we had defensively,” Ruiz said. “They want to run and (Sullivan) was prepared for that.”

DAZZLING DEBUT

Right-handed reliever Tyler Brashears made his Bowling Green Ballpark debut Friday behind Centeno and was solid, allowing one run on two hits with three strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings. Since joining the Hot Rods on April 18, Brashears has allowed four hits and a run in seven innings spanning three appearances.

“He did a great job on the road and today he did another great job for us,” Ruiz said. “He’s pitched really well and hopefully he can continue to pitch that way.”

UP NEXT

The series continues at 6:35 p.m. Saturday with a pair of left-handers on the mound, Michael Velasquez (0-2, 4.50) for the Hot Rods and 2014 second-round pick Cody Reed (0-1, 1.69) for the Cougars.

— Follow Bowling Green Hot Rods reporter Micheal Compton on Twitter @mcompton428 or visit bgdailynews.com.