Bowling Green pitchers Brock Burke and Roel Ramirez took a no-hitter into the eighth inning as the Hot Rods opened a three-game series against Fort Wayne (Ind.) with a 3-0 win on Thursday at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Jack Suwinski’s single with two outs in the eighth was the only hit allowed, as Bowling Green (5-3) fell just short of the third no-hitter in franchise history.

“That was fun to watch,” BG manager Reinaldo Ruiz said. “Brock set the tone. He pitched really well. The Roel came in and he was throwing really well. He gave up that hit, but at least he was aggressive. We got the shutout and the win, so that is all that matters.”

Burke tossed six no-hit innings, bouncing back from his first start of the year against Fort Wayne on April 7 when he lasted three innings. The left-hander threw 82 pitches, 56 for strikes – walking five and striking out five.

“All of my pitches were working and I found out they weren’t really liking the inside pitch … so I used that to my advantage,” Burke said. “I kept doing it, kept hitting my spots.”

Bowling Green’s offense pushed across a run on an RBI single from Josh Lowe in the fourth and a two-run single by Lucius Fox in the seventh.

The only drama left was the potential no-hitter.

Ramirez came in and retired Fort Wayne (2-6) in order in the seventh. The right-hander got two outs in the eighth – with right fielder Eleardo Cabrera recording the second out on a sinking fly ball down the right-field line. Cabrera caught the liner in stride and went over the small wall in foul territory, holding onto the ball.

“When he made that play I was like, ‘We’ve got a chance now,’ ” Ruiz said. “That’s what it takes to get a no-hitter. When (guys) start making those plays, you start thinking you have a chance.”

Suwinski followed with a no-doubt line drive single to right center four pitches later.

Ruiz said he didn’t say anything to Ramirez when he came back in the dugout at the end of the inning.

“He was upset because he gave up the hit, but we got the win,” Ruiz said. “That is all that matters.”

Bowling Green finished with six hits, two from Lowe.

Pitch angry

After walking four in his first start, Burke’s night got off to a rough start Thursday with walks to the first two batters.

Burke was able to settle in with three pop ups and found his groove from there.

“I think I was trying to think too much,” Burke said. “I kind of got mad and started being more aggressive. I started throwing my fastball more aggressively and everything else aggressively.”

Burke joked he might have to get mad before every start if he continues to have that kind of success.

“I might have to have the catcher throw it hard back at me, or something to piss me off to go out there and get them early,” Burke said.

Heating up

Lowe and Fox’s RBI hits were a good sign for the BG offense, with both hitters starting to break out of early-season funks.

Fox has three hits in his last seven at-bats after starting the season 1-for-14. Lowe’s two hits Thursday snapped an 0-for-14 skid to start the season.

“It’s good to see those young players get out of the slump(s) they were in,” Ruiz said. “Fox gave us another clutch hit today. Josh is really coming around too. He’s swinging the bat better. It’s going to take some time, but we are seeing those guys bouncing back. They are young, but they have talent.”

Up next

The series is scheduled to continue at 6:35 p.m. on Friday with a pair of right-handers facing off for the second time in six days.

BG’s Peter Bayer (0-0, 1.80 ERA) allowed one run and three hits with seven strikeouts in his previous start against Fort Wayne.

Fort Wayne’s Austin Smith (0-0, 3.38 ERA) allowed one run and two hits in 2 2/3 innings in his previous start against Bowling Green.{&end}