The hidden ball trick thwarted a late rally for the Bowling Green Hot Rods, who fell 3-2 to Lake County (Ohio) on Monday at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Second baseman Angel Miguel tagged Bowling Green’s Angel Moreno out at second base for the final out to prevent late-inning fireworks from the Hot Rods and give Lake County the opener of the four-game series.

It was the third time this season Miguel pulled off the hidden ball trick, where he hides the ball to make the runner think the pitcher has it before tagging out the runner. Miguel has also pulled the play off twice with Double A Akron.

Bowling Green manager Reinaldo Ruiz was not pleased with how the game finished.

“It was a tough loss for us,” Ruiz said. “I think we had the momentum going. The way the game ends, it was Little League. It was a Little League thing and those umpires didn’t have any idea what was going on, so they called him out.

“It’s tough because we are trying to develop players here, but it’s been a problem all year with the umpires. I know they are trying to learn, but to finish the game like that is not professional.”

Monday’s inning capped a wild night in which Lake County (47-35 overall, 7-5 second half) took a lead late and held back a pair of Bowling Green (42-39, 5-7) comeback attempts.

The Hot Rods took a 1-0 lead in the second on a Zacrey Law homer, but Lake County scored the next three runs – all from the bat of Connor Marabell.

The center fielder hit a sacrifice fly in the third, then delivered a two-out, two-run double in the seventh off reliever Fernando Baez to give the Captains the lead.

Bowling Green got a solo homer from Michael Russell in the bottom of the eighth and had runners at first and third with one out, but Kewby Meyer struck out and Law popped out to end the inning and keep the score at 3-2.

Moreno tried to start a rally in the ninth with a one-out double. After Jake Cronenworth struck out, Miguel pulled off the hidden ball trick following a brief meeting with reliever Billy Strode. After a brief conference, the umpires ruled Moreno out to end the game.

Bowling Green outhit Lake County 10-9, but finished 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight runners.

“We definitely had chances early in the game, but we just couldn’t execute,” Ruiz said. “We hit the ball right at people, too. That’s the game. If you have your chances and don’t score… that’s how the game is going to end up.”

Baez (0-1) took the loss, while Taylor Hawkins got a no-decision despite a quality start. Hawkins allowed one run on five hits in six innings with four walks and five strikeouts.

“He’s doing a really good job,” Ruiz said. “The last two outings have been lights out and today he did a great job for us. He gave us a chance to win for six innings.”

DOUBLING UP

Brett Sullivan finished 4-for-4 with three doubles, becoming the fifth player with three doubles in a game since the franchise moved to Bowling Green in 2009. Five of Sullivan’s nine hits this month have been doubles.

UP NEXT

The series continues at 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday with a pair of right-handers scheduled to face off.

Jose Mujica (3-3, 4.96) is scheduled to start for the Hot Rods. Mujica is 1-1 against Lake County this season with an 8.00 ERA, allowing eight earned runs in nine innings of work. His only win since April 19 came in a June 15 start against the Captains, when he allowed five runs – four earned – on seven hits in five innings of work.

Matt Esparza (7-4, 3.22) is scheduled to start for Lake County. Esparza took the loss in his last outing at South Bend on June 30 despite allowing only ne run and three hits over six innings. He is 0-1 with a 6.23 in two starts against the Hot Rods this season, with Bowling Green hitting .355 as a team against the right-hander.

— Follow Bowling Green Hot Rods reporter Micheal Compton on Twitter @mcompton428 or visit bgdailynews.com.