The Bowling Green Hot Rods’ nine-game home stand got off to a rough start Tuesday with a 1-0 loss to Fort Wayne (Ind.)

Bowling Green (29-28) squandered the best start of the season by Roel Ramirez, with the TinCaps limiting the Hot Rods to three hits.

It was the second straight loss for the Hot Rods, who fall five games back of a playoff spot with 12 games left in the first half.

“It was a tough loss,” BG manager Reinaldo Ruiz said. “We pitched well, but we just couldn’t get the big hit. That cost us the game.”

Ramirez equaled a season high with six innings of work, allowing two hits with four strikeouts. The lone run came on a sacrifice fly by Austin Allen in the fourth inning on a fly ball that BG right fielder Manny Sanchez caught leaning over the wall in foul territory.

Ruiz said he understands why Sanchez caught the ball, instead of letting it fall to prevent the sacrifice fly and keep the at-bat alive.

“It’s a tough call,” Ruiz said. “That early in the game you don’t want to give up any outs. (Ramirez) pitched well. He did a good job for us and gave us a chance.”

Bowling Green had a chance to rally in the eighth, getting runners on the corners with no outs. The Hot Rods couldn’t score, with Sanchez striking out and Kevin Padlo getting into a rundown trying to score on a safety squeeze from Zacrey Law.

Two batters later Michael Russell popped up to end the inning, with the Hot Rods unable to get the tying run in scoring position in the ninth.

“That was key,” Ruiz said. “We couldn’t execute the safety squeeze in that situation and it cost us the game, basically, because we couldn’t do anything in the ninth inning.”

Brett Sullivan finished with two of the Hot Rods’ three hits.

HEY NOW YOU’RE AN ALL-STAR

The Hot Rods announced Tuesday that six players were selected to compete in the Midwest League All-Star game, which will be held June 21 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Four position players were selected – Russell, Padlo, Sullivan and shortstop Jake Cronenworth. 

Cronenworth entered Tuesday leading the Midwest League in batting average (.341) and runs scored (41), while Sullivan is tied for the league lead with nine homers and leads the Midwest League with 39 RBIs.

Starting pitcher Genesis Cabrera and reliever Diego Castillo also earned selections.

“We have a good group of players here, a lot of talent and a lot of athleticism,” Ruiz said. “It’s good that we have six guys going to the all-star game. Congratulations to them and hopefully they can do a really good job in the game.”

This is the fourth time that Bowling Green has had six or more players selected to the Midwest League Eastern Division All-Star roster. The Hot Rods sent eight players last year, one off the franchise record of nine selections set in 2013.

UP NEXT

The series continues with a 12:05 p.m. matinee on Wednesday.

Cabrera (5-2, 2.23) is scheduled to start for the Hot Rods. The left-hander earned the win in his last start at Lansing (Mich.) on June 2, allowing one run on three hits in six innings. Cabrera is 2-1 in five appearances at Bowling Green Ballpark with a 1.89 ERA.

Left-hander Logan Allen (3-3, 2.93) is scheduled to start for Fort Wayne. After going 1-3 with a 3.57 ERA in May, Allen got a no decision in a start against South Bend (Ind.) on June 2 – allowing one run in 4 1/3 innings.

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