The Bowling Green Hot Rods finally reached the finish line with Saturday’s 5-0 win over South Bend (Ind.) at Bowling Green Ballpark.

With South Bend (75-62 overall, 36-32 second half) needing a sweep to knock the Hot Rods out of a Midwest League playoff spot, Bowling Green kept the weekend drama-free by taking the opener and securing a second straight playoff spot.

Saturday’s clincher came after a precarious two-week stretch that saw the Hot Rods’ nine-game lead dwindle to one following a 10-game losing streak. Bowling Green righted the ship just in time with Saturday’s victory, the Hot Rods’ third straight win since the losing skid.

“It feels great now,” BG manager Reinaldo Ruiz said. “I think all of the weight is off our shoulders now. We did it. We clinched and we did it at home. It took longer than we thought, but at the end of the day we are going to be in the playoffs, and that’s all that matters.”

The Hot Rods’ clinch was relatively drama-free with Bowling Green in control for most of the night.

Bowling Green (70-65, 39-29) opened up a 2-0 lead on a two-run double from Rene Pinto in the third.

The Hot Rods added another run on a wild pitch in the fifth, and Garrett Whitley extended the lead to 4-0 with a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

Bobby Melley’s RBI single in the eighth capped the scoring, and Joe Serrapica finished it off with a perfect ninth, striking out Jhonny Perada for the final out.

“The plan was to go after it tonight and try to win it the first game home and we did it,” Ruiz said. “We knew we were going to have to finish it here (in the final series). We wanted to do it the first game and we did it.”

Melley finished with two of the Hot Rods’ seven hits, while Miles Mastrobuoni, Robbie Tenerowicz and Josh Lowe each had a hit and a run scored.

“Through that streak it seemed like whenever we hit, we didn’t pitch, and whenever we didn’t hit, we pitched,” Mastrobuoni said. “It was a rough stretch, but it feels real good that we are doing both right now. Hopefully we will take it into the playoffs.”

The win means the Hot Rods will open the postseason against Fort Wayne (Ind.) at Bowling Green Ballpark on Wednesday.

“That’s the end goal,” Mastrobuoni said. “As long as we have a shot to get a ring, that is our main goal starting from day one.”

CELEBRATION

Saturday’s playoff clincher was the franchise’s fifth in nine seasons in Bowling Green, but only the second time the Hot Rods have clinched at home.

BACK ON TRACK

After two straight losses against West Michigan, starting pitcher Willy Ortiz returned to form Saturday to earn his eighth victory of the season.

Ortiz tossed five scoreless innings allowing five hits with three walks and a strikeout.

The series continues at 6:35 p.m. on Sunday.

Right-hander Spencer Moran (1-2, 3.71) is scheduled to start for the Hot Rods. Moran has made four appearances against the Cubs this season, two starts, allowing four earned runs in 14 innings.

Left-hander Manual Rondon (14-6, 4.70) is scheduled to start for South Bend. Rondon is 0-3 in four starts against the Hot Rods this season, allowing 15 earned runs in 16 2/3 innings.