Kaufman’s Start Squandered in Bandits’ Friday Night Loss

Davenport, Iowa – Despite Rylan Kaufman’s quality start, the Quad Cities River Bandits were outscored 4-0 over the final three innings on Friday, falling to the Dayton Dragons 6-4 at Modern Woodmen Park.

Quad Cities took the first lead in the ballgame against Dayton starter Christian Roa, as Darryl Collins grounded a two-out, two-strike, two-run double down the right-field line to jump in front 2-0. But in the very next half inning, Q.C. starter Rylan Kaufman gave up his only two runs of the night on an RBI single from Garrett Wolforth and a sacrifice-fly from Ashton Creal.

In the fifth, the Bandits got to Roa again, with Tyler Tolbert plating Parker Bates’ leadoff walk on a triple, his second in as many nights, and then scoring from third on Peyton Wilson’s steal of second two batters later for a 4-2 lead.

After the pair of runs in the fourth, Kaufman didn’t allow a run or a hit over his final two innings on the mound, striking out three and inducing an inning-ending double play in the sixth.

The left-hander tossed his second-straight 6.0-inning performance, allowing two runs on seven hits, two walks, and six strikeouts.

In the seventh, Dayton started to chip away against the Bandits’ bullpen, as Austin Hendrick made it a one-run game against Patrick Halligan with an RBI single.

One frame later, after Dennis Boatman struck out Quad Cities in order in the bottom of the seventh, the Dragons tied the game, with Chase Wallace allowing an RBI single to Ashton Creal and then giving up the lead on an error on a pickoff attempt, allowing Steven Leyton to score from third and put Dayton up 5-4.

Quad Cities got a leadoff single from Herard Gonzalez in the bottom of the eighth, but Boatman recovered to retire the next three men he faced, including his fourth and fifth strikeouts.

In the ninth, Dayton got an insurance run courtesy of a Michel Triana solo blast, his third of the season, but it wouldn’t be needed, as Jake Gozzo stranded the tying runs in scoring position in the bottom half.

Boatman (2-2) earned the win for Dayton, allowing just one base runner over two scoreless innings of relief, while Wallace (2-1) got tagged with the loss and a blown save (1), giving up three runs, two earned, in his 2.0 innings of work.

The River Bandits will look to snap their two-game slide on Saturday night, as Beck Way (2-2, 3.48) gets the start against Thomas Farr (1-6, 5.03) who will go for the Dragons. First pitch at Modern Woodmen Park is set for 6:30pm.