Hot Rods second baseman Robbie Tenerowicz (8) fields a ground ball hit by Burlington first baseman Richie Fecteau (7) Friday, July 21, 2017, during a game at Bowling Green Ballpark. (Bac Totrong/photo@bgdailynews.com)

The Bowling Green Hot Rods’ offense exploded in the rubber match of a three-game series against Burlington (Iowa), slugging its way to a 9-7 victory over the Bees on Friday at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Bowling Green (48-47 overall, 17-11 second half) pounded out 11 hits, but had to survive a ninth-inning rally from the Bees to take the series and climb back above .500 overall.

The Hot Rods struck first with an RBI double from Adrian Rondon and a two-run single from Danny De La Calle to make the score 3-0 in the second.

Burlington (43-54, 12-16) scored in the third, but Robbie Tenerowicz answered with an RBI triple in the bottom of the inning. The Bees got a two-run single from Stephen Kerr, but again the Hot Rods answered with a two-run single from Jesus Sanchez to make the score 6-3.

Burlington got one more run in the sixth, but the Hot Rods extended the lead back to 9-4 with three runs in the eighth – highlighted by an RBI triple from Lucius Fox.

That insurance proved important in the ninth, with Burlington nearly rallying. Richard Fecteau’s three-run homer trimmed the deficit to two and John Schucknecht singled to bring the tying run to the plate with one out.

A strikeout and a walk put two on with two outs before Spencer Moran struck out Kerr to end the game.

Sanchez paced the offense with three hits and two runs scored, while De La Calle and Mike Brosseau added two runs each.

Fox, Sanchez, and Josh Lowe all scored two runs each.

Jason McKinley earned the win in relief, allowing one run in 2 1/3 innings.

Injured Hot Rod

Starting pitcher Kenny Rosenberg was removed in the fourth inning after getting hit in the head on a throw from De La Calle.

The catcher was attempting to throw a runner out at second when the ball hit Rosenberg and bounced into center field.

Roster Move

Before the game, the Hot Rods activated left-handed pitcher Greg Maisto from the temporary inactive list and placed Willy Ortiz on the temporary inactive list.

Up Next

The Hot Rods begin a three-game series with Peoria (Ill.), an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, at 6:35 p.m. Saturday at Bowling Green Ballpark. Former Western Kentucky University infielder Danny Hudzina is on Peoria’s active roster.

Right-hander Chris Pike (2-3, 3.77) is scheduled to start for the Hot Rods. Pike is 2-1 with a 3.18 ERA in three starts in July. He took the loss in his last outing at Clinton (Iowa) on July 15 – allowing five earned runs in five innings.

Right-hander Anthony Shew (0-0, 4.05) is scheduled to start for Peoria. Shew made his Peoria debut on July 16, allowing three earned runs in 6 2/3 innings.