The Bowling Green Hot Rods were unable to climb out of an early hole, falling 7-3 to Cedar Rapids (Iowa) on Friday at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Bowling Green (16-17) trailed from the opening inning as the Kernels evened the three-game series and denied the Hot Rods a chance to move above .500 for the first time since April 26.

BG starter Pete Bayer had his worst outing of the season, failing to get out of the third inning. Cedar Rapids (18-16) got a two-run double from Jaylin Davis in the first, then chased Bayer in the third with another two-run rally – including an RBI single from Mitchell Kranson.

Robbie Tenerowicz’s RBI single in the bottom of the third got the Hot Rods on the board, but Cedar Rapids answered with single runs in the fourth and fifth to push the margin to 6-1.

BG loaded the bases and plated two runs in the fifth to trim the deficit to three runs, but that would be the last time the Hot Rods would score – with Kranson adding an RBI double in the ninth for the final margin of victory.

Bayer took the loss in his first decision of the season. The right-hander allowed season highs in earned runs (four) and hits (seven) as his ERA jumped from 1.37 to 2.82.

Tenerowicz and Rene Pinto had two hits each. The Hot Rods were outhit 13-7.

Hot Rods debut

Outfielder Emilio Gustave made his BG debut Friday, hitting eighth and playing right. Gustave finished 0-for-3 with a walk.

Roster moves

Right-hander Brian McAfee was activated from the disabled list prior to the game. McAfee was 0-0 with 1.00 ERA in four appearances before going on the DL on April 25.

To make room for McAfee, left-hander Porter Clayton was granted his outright release. Clayton was 1-1 with a 6.23 ERA in eight appearances for the Hot Rods.

Up next

The Hot Rods wrap up the series, and homestand, at 6:35 p.m. Saturday.

Right-hander Adrian Navas (2-4, 5.53) is scheduled to start for Bowling Green. Navas earned the win at Beloit (Wis.) in his last start on May 5, allowing two earned runs and eight hits in five innings.

Right-hander Clark Beeker (4-1, 1.65) is scheduled to start for the Kernels. After losing in his season debut, Beeker has won four straight starts – including a six-inning stint, allowing one earned run, in his last start on May 7. Beeker is sixth in the Midwest League in ERA.