The Bowling Green Hot Rods showed a bit of resiliency, rallying for a 5-4 win over Lake County (Ohio) on Tuesday at Bowling Green Ballpark.

For the second time in less than a week, Bowling Green (63-55 overall, 32-19 second half) trailed after seven innings, but found a way to rally by scoring a run in each of the final three innings – including a walk-off homer from Josh Lowe.

It was the third walk-off win of the season for the Hot Rods, the second against the Captains. Bowling Green’s magic number to clinch a playoff spot is 12 following the victory.

“That was a huge game,” BG manager Reinaldo Ruiz said. “The way we came back and won the game is unbelievable. It’s a good example of the guys we have here. They never quit. It was very fun to watch.”

Lake County (49-71, 22-29) took a 4-2 lead in the sixth, but relievers Sam Long and Joe Serrapica were able to stem the tide to set up the Hot Rods’ comeback.

Jesus Sanchez cut the deficit to one with a solo homer in the seventh. Emilio Gustave, who homered earlier in the game, tied the game with a sacrifice fly in the eighth to set the stage for Lowe’s game winner.

After Serrapica escaped a runners on the corners with two outs jam in the top of the ninth, Lowe led off the ninth and took a 2-2 pitch over the wall in right-center for his first walk-off homer as a professional.

“The first two pitches he was trying to attack away in the zone,” Lowe said. “I got into a count where I knew I had a chance to put a good swing on the ball. Thankfully the pitch was there and I did. I can’t credit everybody enough to keep us in the ball game so I had a chance to do that.”

Ruiz said he wasn’t surprised that Lowe got the walk-off hit.

“Josh was having good at-bats all night,” Ruiz said. “He was seeing a lot of pitches. He was very focused. The last at-bat was kind of like the cherry on the top of the ice cream. He’s maturing and doing a really good job for us.”

Serrapica earned the win to improve to 2-1 on the season.

Lowe, Gustave, Sanchez and Rene Pinto all finished with two hits each.

TENSE MOMENT

Bowling Green Hot Rods infielders Adrian Rondon and Robbie Tenerowicz were removed from the game in the sixth inning after an on-field altercation.

The incident happened after Rondon was unable to make a play on a foul ball near the Hot Rods dugout. Rondon appeared to take exception to something Tenerowicz said and responded with a gesture that led to Tenerowicz shoving Rondon.

Both players were on the bench for the remainder of the game and met with Ruiz behind closed doors following the game.

“It was a tough situation there,” Ruiz said. “I think it got a little out of control, but I think they are young. They are immature sometimes in those situations and they don’t know how to handle it. It’s a learning situation for both of them. Hopefully they can move forward and play as a team and do what we want, which is to win games.

“I think we handled it the right way and hopefully from now on we aren’t going to see that.”

UP NEXT

The series continues at 6:35 p.m. on Thursday. Left-hander Kenny Rosenberg (5-6, 4.11) is scheduled to start for the Hot Rods. Left-hander Juan Hillman (6-7, 5.79) is scheduled to start for Lake County.{&end}{&end}