Bowling Green Hot Rods outfielder Chandler Simpson slides safely into home for the Hot Rods’ first run of the day against the Brooklyn Cyclones on Wednesday at Bowling Green Ballpark.The Hot Rods won 14-5.

The Bowling Green Hot Rods turned a nail biter into a laughter rather quickly, using a late surge to blast the Brooklyn Cyclones 14-5 on Wednesday at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Bowling Green (18-16) scored 11 runs over the final three at-bats to roll past the Cyclones and cruise to the series opening win.

The win improves the Hot Rods to 5-2 on the current two week, 12 game homestand.

“It’s nice to be home and regroup and work on the things we need to work on,” BG manager Rafael Valenzuela said. “Now we are seeing the work and the effort of the guys.”

Bowling Green scored runs in each of the first three innings to take a 3-0 lead heading into the fourth inning.

Brooklyn finally broke through off starter Roel Garcia III in the fifth. The Cyclones loaded the bases, scoring on a wild pitch before Nick Larusso connected on a three-run homer to center to give Brooklyn a 4-3 advantage.

The Hot Rods took control an inning later with a four-run rally.

Xavier Isaac‘s RBI single tied the score with Cooper McKinney’s RBI single pushing BG back in front. Colton Ledbetter then delivered a no-doubt three run homer to right to make the score 8-4.

Junior Tillien homered for Brooklyn in the top of the seventh, but the Hot Rods answered with six runs in the bottom of the eighth – including a little league homer from Kam James and a solo homer from Brock Jones – to break it wide open.

“It’s nice to see the fight in these guys,” Valenzuela said. “They’ve shown it throughout the whole season. It doesn’t matter if we are down 10, like we were on Sunday, or down by three – the guys are going to battle and they are going to put up good at-bats. All credit to them for not throwing away games and being able to make those comebacks.”

Bowling Green finished with 17 hits. Isaac led the way with four hits and three RBIs. Chandler Simpson and Tre’ Morgan had three hits each, while Ledbetter added three RBIs and three runs scored.

Garcia went six innings to earn the win and improve to 2-1 on the season.

GREETINGS PART 1

Morgan shined in his debut with the Hot Rods, driving in a pair and scoring two runs in addition to his three hit day. He joined the team from Charleston, where the third round pick out of LSU hit .320 in 26 games.

“He’s a good addition to the lineup,” Valenzuela said. “Tre’s reputation is he can hit and he can play defense at first base and the outfield. He will be getting some reps at first base and some reps in the outfield and he will be in the lineup.”

GREETINGS PART 2

Wednesday was the first ever appearance by Brooklyn at Bowling Green Ballpark

The Cyclones joined the South Atlantic League in 2021 after previously playing in the Low A-short season New York-Penn League.

While it was Brooklyn’s first game at Bowling Green Ballpark, it’s not the game played here by Brooklyn’s MLB affiliate the New York Mets. The Hot Rods faced New York’s affiliate Savannah in the 2009 season when BG played one season in the South Atlantic League before moving to the Midwest League.

UP NEXT

The series continues with a doubleheader on Thursday as the Hot Rods and Cyclones will make up Tuesday’s game that was postponed due to inclement weather.

Game one is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. Right-hander Duncan Davitt (2-2, 4.06) is scheduled to start for the Hot Rods, with right-hander Jordany Ventura (2-0, 2.41) scheduled to start for Brooklyn.

Game two is scheduled to start approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one. Right-hander Trevor Martin (2-2, 4.76) is scheduled to start for the Hot Rods. Right-hander Nolan McLean (2-1, 3.00) is scheduled to start for the Cyclones.