The Bowling Green Hot Rods were unable to withstand an offensive barrage from Fort Wayne (Ind.), falling 12-7 on Saturday at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Fort Wayne (3-7) pounded out 12 hits, including three homers, and held off a late surge from the Hot Rods to snap a five-game skid and avoid the three-game sweep.

“Definitely it was a tough game,” BG manager Reinaldo Ruiz said. “Two bad innings … and it was tough for us to come back after those (innings). The good thing is we battled. Offensively, we made a game of it.”

After allowing 24 runs total in the first nine games, Bowling Green (6-4) found itself 11 runs down by the third inning.

BG starter Travis Ott lasted one inning – allowing five runs, including a three-run double by Marcus Greene Jr.

Greene struck again with a two-run homer in the third, part of a six-run rally that included home runs from Hudson Potts and Brad Zunica.

The Hot Rods got on the board in the bottom of the third on a two-run double by Jesus Sanchez, but the TinCaps answered with an unearned run in the fourth.

Jonah Heim helped the Hot Rods pull a little closer with a two-run homer in the sixth.

Heim and Eleardo Cabrera added RBI singles in a three-run eighth to make the score 12-7, but Bowling Green was unable to get any closer.

“It was good to see our guys battle back and not give up,” Ruiz said. “Scoring seven runs after the huge lead that they had, that is good to see.”

The Hot Rods finished with 10 hits, two each from Heim, Cabrera and Sanchez.

Elias bureau

One of the bright spots on the pitching staff Saturday was reliever Elias Torres, who struck out five in 2 1/3 hitless, scoreless innings.

The converted catcher, who held opposing batters to a .161 average in 18 games last season, has not allowed a hit in 5 1/3 innings this year with nine strikeouts.

“It was good to see Torres come in (and pitch well),” Ruiz said. “He didn’t care about the situation. He came in and did his job. That was a big help for us, especially being down early and having to use all of the bullpen.”

Rare matinee

Saturday’s day game at Bowling Green Ballpark was a bit unique, with the Hot Rods playing a Saturday day home game for only the second time in franchise history.

The previous Saturday day game came in the franchise’s second home game ever on April 18, 2009, with Bowling Green losing to Kannapolis 2-1.

Three major leaguers were in the starting lineups that day. Tim Beckham started at shortstop and hit second for the Hot Rods. Eduardo Escobar was the leadoff hitter for Kannapolis, with Daniel Hudson the starting pitcher.

Up next

The Hot Rods begin a seven-game road trip, starting with the first of three games at Lake County (Ohio) at 5:30 p.m. CDT on Monday.

Right-hander Adrian Navas (1-1, 5.14) is scheduled to start for the Hot Rods. Navas earned the win in his last start on April 10 against Lansing (Mich.), allowing one run and four hits with five strikeouts in six innings.

Right-hander Micah Miniard (0-0, 1.17) is scheduled to start for the Captains. Miniard allowed one hit and five walks in 4 2/3 innings of work in his last start against Great Lakes (Mich.) on Tuesday.{&end}