Petty dominant but Dragons fall to River Bandits

Credit: Marshall Gorby

Credit: Marshall Gorby

Despite a dominant performance by Dayton starting pitcher Chase Petty, the Quad Cities River Bandits took advantage of a big inning against the Dayton bullpen and defeated the Dragons 5-3 on Wednesday night.  The River Bandits have won the first two games of the series.

Quad Cities led the Dragons 5-0 entering the ninth inning before Dayton rallied, scoring three runs and putting the potential tying run on base before the final out was recorded.

Petty, acquired in spring training for Major League pitcher Sonny Gray, is the Midwest League’s youngest pitcher at age 19.  He worked five quick innings, throwing just 55 pitches without allowing a run. The River Bandits advanced only one runner past first base against him. Petty gave up two hits and one walk with seven strikeouts but left the game with the score 0-0.

The game was scoreless until Quad Cities scored one run in the sixth against Dayton reliever Javien Sandridge, who replaced Petty to start the inning.  In the seventh, Sandridge endured major command issues, issuing three walks and then a bases loaded hit batsman to force in a run to make it 2-0.  With two outs and the bases still loaded, Donovan Benoit replaced Sandridge.  Quad Cities’ Darryl Collins hit a line drive toward left field.  Dragons outfielder Ashton Creal raced in and made a diving try, but narrowly missed making the catch.  The ball bounced past and by the time center fielder Jay Allen could back up the play, three runs scored to make it 5-0.

In the ninth, Dayton’s Tyler Callihan singled to start the inning and went to third on a double by Mat Nelson.  Noelvi Marte’s ground out brought in Callihan, and after a two-out walk to Garrett Wolforth, Justice Thompson delivered a two-run single to make it 5-3 and bring the tying run to the plate.  Steven Leyton singled to center to move Thompson to second, but Creal flied out to center field to end the game.

The Dragons full-season record fell to 55-58 with the loss. They are 16-31 in the second half.  Quad Cities improved to 48-68 overall and 22-28 in the second half.