The Quad Cities River Bandits powered up to down the Bowling Green Hot Rods 6-0 on Sunday at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Quad Cities hit three homers, while Jairo Solis and Bryan Abreu limited the Hot Rods to two hits as the River Bandits evened the three-game series and set up a rubber match in Monday’s finale.

One day after Bowling Green rallied from three down to win 4-3, the River Bandits took control early and never let up.

Quad Cities got two run homers in back-to-back innings – David Hensley in the second and Colton Shaver in the third – to build a 4-0 cushion.

Logan Mattix added an RBI single in the fourth. Seth Beer capped the scoring in the seventh with the River Bandits’ third homer of the day – a solo shot that pushed the lead to 6-0.

Bowling Green’s best chance to score came in the sixth, when the Hot Rods loaded the bases with two outs before Abreu struck out Devin Davis to end the inning.

“The bases were loaded, but it was two outs,” BG manager Craig Albernaz said. “It’s tough to expect your team to get multi-hits with two outs. It’s tough, but yeah a ball in the gap – maybe it would have picked the guys up.”

Solis allowed both hits and walked four with four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings to earn the win and improve to 1-3 on the season. Abreu struck out six over 3 1/3 hitless innings of relief to earn his first save.

“Their pitching was really good,” Albernaz said. “Solis threw the ball really well – had a good fastball and a really good breaking ball – and the same with Abreu. They had very similar game plan and very similar pitch characteristics.”

Zach Rutherford and Moises Gomez had Bowling Green’s hits – both singles.

FRANKLIN EXITS

The Hot Rods’ starting rotation took another hit Sunday when Austin Franklin left with one out in the third inning after an undisclosed injury to his pitching arm.

“When Franklin came out of the game with injury, it put a damper on the game because you see how hard he works and is a good guy in the clubhouse,” Albernaz said. “To see one of your guys go down, it takes the wind out of your sails.”

Franklin’s injury depletes a rotation that has seen recent promotions to Josh Fleming and Riley O’Brien, with opening day starter Drew Strotman on the disabled list since May 26.

“We will see what happens with Franklin,” Albernaz said. “It is what it is.”

ROSTER MOVE

Before the game, the Hot Rods announced that right-hander Tyler Day was activated off the disabled list, with Mac Seibert transferred to the Hudson Valley (N.Y.) roster.

Day pitched in Sunday’s game, tossing a scoreless ninth.

UP NEXT

The series, and homestand, concludes at 12:05 p.m. Monday.

Right-hander Mikey York (1-0, 1.00) is scheduled to start for the Hot Rods.

York will be making his first start of the season after making eight appearances out of the bullpen, allowing two runs in 18 innings. York has not allowed an earned run in his last 10 innings, spanning four appearances.

Right-hander Chad Donato (0-0, 0.64) is scheduled to start for the River Bandits.

Donato will be making his third start of the season, his fourth appearance overall. He enters Monday’s game having not allowed a run over his last 12 innings.{&end}