The BG Hot Rods lost for the first time in the second half, dropping a 4-3 decision to Lake County (Ohio) on Sunday at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Two unearned runs early and a 1-for-8 night at the plate with runners in scoring position were the difference in a game that the Hot Rods were in until the final out.

Here are postgame comments from manager Jared Sandberg and designated hitter Justin O’Conner.

Sandberg

“We just couldn’t overcome the mistakes early. Mistakes are going to be made. The guys need to learn from them and try to think about what they will do differently the next time. We’re going to make mistakes and tonight it ended up costing us the game.”

“Lopez pitched well. He just ran out of pitches. He labored a little bit in the third and fourth, but I thought he pitched very well. He’s going to attack the zone. He has a nice (two-seam fastball). He had tremendous stuff early with his slider and change-up working well and got a lot of ground balls.”

“He has pitched well for us. We have the right guy to go out there and try and even the series.”

O’Conner

“We played a good game. The hitting and pitching was good, it just didn’t work out for us. We didn’t catch the breaks that they did and we didn’t come out on top.”

on the success he and Luke Maile are having at the plate alternating between catcher and DH. O’Conner has four homers and 12 RBIs in June, while Maile is hitting .368

“I think me and Luke go well together. Right now we are both hitting well. The catching is going great. I think it couldn’t be better right now.”