The Bowling Green Hot Rods equaled a franchise record with a ninth straight victory in a 7-3 win over West Michigan on Saturday at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Bowling Green scored four runs with two outs in the eighth inning to pull away, to record its second nine-game win streak in the last 24 games. It’s the Hot Rods’ third nine-game win streak in franchise history. BG is 20-4 in the last 24 games.

The victory wasn’t without some drama, with the Hot Rods able to counter a late charge from the Whitecaps.

West Michigan took a 1-0 lead on an RBI single by Will Maddox in the third, but Bowling Green gained the lead on a wild play in the fourth.

With two runners on, David Olmedo-Barrera singled home a run, but Kevin Padlo got caught in a rundown between third and home trying to score the second run. During the rundown Olmedo-Barrera advanced to third, coming around to score when West Michigan catcher Arvicent Perez’s throw sailed into left field.

The Hot Rods added an RBI single from Brandon Lowe in the fifth, before the Whitecaps rallied late.

West Michigan cut the deficit to one when Jose Zambrano scored on a wild pitch by Fernando Baez in the seventh inning. One inning later, Will Allen hit a homer that bounced off the top of the fence and over the wall in right to make the score 3-3.

That set the stage for the Hot Rods’ game-winning, two-out rally in the eighth.

West Michigan opted to intentionally walk David Rodriguez to load the bases with two out, but Kewby Meyer lined a soft two-run single up the middle to give the Hot Rods the lead and Micheal Russell drove a two-run double to the wall in left-center to give the Hot Rods some insurance and secure the victory.

Russell finished with four hits, while Lowe and Olmedo-Barrera had two hits each. The Hot Rods (65-45 overall, 28-13 second half) have scored at least six runs in seven of the last eight games and have outscored its opponents 62-21 during the nine-game win streak.

Baez picked up the win, improving to 2-1 on the season.

Q RATING

BG started Jose Mujica got a no-decision, but continued his recent hot stretch with his sixth straight quality start for the Hot Rods, allowing one run and eight hits in six innings of work.

Mujica has worked 38 innings in his last six starts, allowing seven runs and 28 hits. The right-hander has lowered his ERA from to 3.83 in that span.

NEW POSITION

Peter Maris and Meyer were both in the lineup Saturday, but found themselves in different spots defensively.

Maris played at first base for the first time as a professional. It was the fourth position for Maris this season. He’s played 32 games at second, 12 each at third and shortstop, and one game in the outfield.

Meyer made his professional debut in left field after playing 26 games at first.

UP NEXT

The series continues at 4:05 p.m. Sunday with a pair of right-handers slated to take the hill.

Eduar Lopez (3-0, 2.08) is scheduled to start for the Hot Rods. Lopez had his shortest outing since joining Bowling Green last month in his last outing, allowing four runs – three earned – in five innings, but still picked up the victory. He allowed one unearned run in six innings in his only start at Bowling Green Ballpark on July 18.

Beau Burrows (5-4, 3.67) is scheduled to start for West Michigan. Burrows is winless in his last six starts, with his last victory coming on June 9. He got a no decision in his only start against Bowling Green on June 28, allowing two runs and three hits in six innings.

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