Bowling Green Hot Rods pitcher Roel Garcia III (29) delivers the ball at the Bowling Green Ballpark in Bowling Green, Ky., on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. The Hot Rods win the series opener, 14-5. (Daily News photo by Joe Imel/joe.imel@bgdailynews.com)

Roel Garcia tied a season-high with six innings, but the Bowling Green Hot Rods were held to four hits in a 1-0 shutout loss to the Asheville Tourists on Tuesday at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Asheville (29-36 overall, 3-1 second half) scored first in the top of the fifth inning facing Garcia. Jackson Loftin singled and stole second to put a runner in scoring position. Austin Deming singled to left, plating Loftin to give the Tourists a 1-0 lead.

Bowling Green (38-32, 2-2) threatened in the ninth against Asheville reliever Railin Perez. Tre’ Morgan walked to lead off the inning and moved up to second on a Cooper Kinney groundout. Perez slammed the door the rest of the way, sealing the Asheville victory, 1-0.

Asheville starter Nic Swanson (2-4) earned the victory after five scoreless innings of work, surrendering three hits and walking two with four strikeouts. Garcia (5-4) received the loss after six innings, allowing six hits and one run on a walk and four strikeouts. Perez earned the save after spinning a scoreless ninth inning and walking one.

The Hot Rods and Tourists square off Wednesday for game two of a six-game series with first pitch set for 6:35 p.m. at Bowling Green Ballpark. Right-hander Duncan Davitt (5-5, 2.97) gets the start for Bowling Green, while Asheville sends out righty Edinson Batista (5-2, 5.55).