Hot Rods’ manager Rafael Valenzuela talks about the upcoming season beside players Xavier Isaac (11) and Brayden Taylor (20) during a press conference at the Bowling Green Ballpark on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. The Hot Rods kick off their 2024 season with a home game against the Hudson Valley Renegades on Friday at 6:35 p.m. (Grace Ramey/grace.ramey@bgdailynews.com)

Rafael Valenzuela collected his 200th managerial victory in the Bowling Green Hot Rods’ 4-3 win over the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Tuesday at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Bowling Green (25-21) scored the first runs of the game in the top of third inning against Wilmington starter Bryan Caceras. Xavier Issac roped a double to left and scored on a two-run blast by Tre’ Morgan to make it 2-0.

T.J. White launched a solo homer to right off Hot Rods starter Duncan Davitt in the top of the fifth, cutting the deficit, 2-1.

The Hot Rods scored off Caceras again in the bottom of the fifth. Issac walked and came around to score on a double by Morgan, putting the Hot Rods up 3-1. Morgan moved up to third on a single by Cooper Kinney and scored on a sacrifice fly from Tatem Levins to make it 4-1.

The Blue Rocks (21-23) scored a run in the seventh off Hot Rods reliever Drew Sommers and a run off Bowling Green reliever J.J. Goss in the ninth. The Wilmington momentum ended there, finishing in a 4-3 Hot Rods win.

Davitt (4-3) recorded the win, allowing a run on five hits, a walk and five strikeouts over six innings. Caceras (0-4) picked up the loss, allowing four runs on eight hits and three walks. Goss notched the save, allowing a run on two hits with a strikeout over 1 2/3 innings.

The Hot Rods and Blue Rocks play game two of a six-game series on Wednesday with first pitch set for 6:35 p.m. Bowling Green is starting right-hander Trevor Martin (2-2, 3.80), while righty Jose Atencio (0-1, 3.60) takes the ball for Wilmington.