Bowling Green Hot Rod’s Trevor Martin pitches during a game between the Bowling Green Hot Rods and Winston-Salem on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at Bowling Green Ballpark. (Daily News photo by Caleb Lowndes/caleb.lowndes@bgdailynews.com)

It was more late-inning heroics for the Bowling Green Hot Rods, who picked up a 2-1 walk-off win over Winston-Salem on Wednesday at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Less than 24 hours after opening the series with a late rally in a 7-6 victory, Bowling Green (7-4) got an RBI single from Kam James to earn the Hot Rods’ first walk-off win of the season.

“I started the season slow, but I feel like I’m seeing the ball well as of late,” James said. “I was confident stepping into the box there at the end. I’m glad I could get it done.

“ … It just continues to build our confidence and we know we are never out of it. We know it is a nine-inning game and we are also proving it to ourselves that you have to beat us for all nine.”

Both teams struck in the opening inning before the pitchers took control and silenced the bats for most of the afternoon.

Winston-Salem (3-8) got an RBI single from Shawn Goosenberg, but the Hot Rods answered with an RBI double by Cooper Kinney to tie it 1-1 after one.

The Dash had one runner in scoring position the rest of the way as Trevor Martin and three relievers combined to hold Winston-Salem to five hits with 11 strikeouts and one walk.

Bowling Green loaded the bases with one out in the eighth, but Xavier Isaac struck out and Kinney grounded out to end the threat.

That set the stage for the ninth-inning rally, with the Hot Rods only needing two batters to secure the victory.

Colton Ledbetter opened the inning with a fly ball to right field that hit off the top of the bullpen fence and stayed in play. Ledbetter sprinted out of the box and was able to make it to third with a lead-off triple.

“That’s the one thing that I ask these guys,” BG manager Rafael Valenzuela said. “I’m not going to ask you to go 4-for-4, give me six shutout innings. All I am going to ask out of you is giving me effort running hard. Credit to Ledbetter. Anybody else would have coasted, but he was on his horse and we were able to get him all the way to third.”

James worked the count to 2-2 before driving Ledbetter home with an RBI single up the middle through a drawn-in infield.

It was another big moment late for James, who had the game-tying hit in Tuesday’s come-from-behind win.

“He’s finding his way,” Valenzuela said. “He’s making the transition from infielder to catching, so that is not easy. He’s got a lot on his mind, but he is finding his way. He keeps working and, like I tell the guys, the work always wins.”

Jeff Hankenson earned the win after pitching a perfect ninth with one strikeout.

Ledbetter and Chandler Simpson had two hits each, with Simpson stealing his South Atlantic League-leading 13th base of the season.

FOR STARTERS

Martin had his third strong start of the season, working a season-high 5 2/3 innings and allowing four hits with eight strikeouts. The right-hander has worked 15 2/3 innings this season, striking out 24.

Martin walked one batter, the first walk he has issued this season.

“That is a special arm,” Valenzuela said. “Every time he takes the mound, it’s a special arm. He’s as advertised. I heard a lot about him last year. This is the first go around that I’ve got to see him and for three starts he has been spectacular. He got hit a little bit in Greenville, but it was nice to see him bounce back today. Like I said, he’s a special arm.”

UP NEXT

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

Right-hander Alex Cook (0-1, 3.38) is scheduled to start for the Hot Rods. Cook tossed four shutout innings in his last start at Greenville on Friday.

Right-hander Peyton Pallette (0-1, 9.00) is scheduled to start for the Dash.