Dragons tales:

Dayton looked sure to complete a series sweep of Quad Cities on Saturday night at Fifth Third Field, but the River Bandits scored five runs in the eighth and ninth innings to tie the game at 8-8 and force extra innings.

That’s where the game stood at press time.

Chuckie Robinson hit a two-run home run off Dayton’s Jesse Adams in the eighth to narrow Dayton’s lead to 8-5. In the ninth, Rodrigo Ayarza hit a threerun home run off Joel Kuhnel with two outs to tie it 8-8. Kuhnel struck out the next batter to end the inning, but the Dragons went down in order to force extra innings.

The Dragons got four hits in the first four innings against Quad Cities starter Ryan Hartman, but they beat up right-handed reliever Ronel Blanco in the fifth.

Taylor Trammell led off with a triple, and Tyler Stephenson followed with an RBI single to give Dayton a 3-2 lead. Cassidy Brown and Brantley Bell then struck out, but the Dragons went to work with two outs.

James Vasquez reached after getting hit by a pitch,

Big inning: DRAGONS PLAYER PROFILE

Wennington Alexis Romero Pitcher 10 L/L; 5-11, 175 pounds Jan. 29, 1998 (19) Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic None Signed by Reds as international free agent, 2014. One of several Dragons from the Dominican Republic. Dependable and durable, is 3-0 with a 2.15 ERA and has lasted four-plus innings in all seven starts. Has struck out 41 in 37.2 innings, walked seven and allowed just one home run. also has excelled at Billings and with the AZL Reds. and Luis Gonzalez followed with a single to load the bases. Hector Vargas then hit a two-RBI single to center field, and T.J Friedl followed with a hard ground ball to center field to score two more runs and give Dayton a 7-2 lead.

Hector Vargas hit his first home run of the season in the seventh inning by driving a fastball out to left field. Vargas entered Saturday’s game with the team’s lowest batting average (.158) but he was 3 for 5 with three RBIs before extra innings.

Stephenson had a good night at the plate to keep his hot streak going. He was 1 for 1 at press time and had three walks. He has hit .321 over his last 21 games.

A night off didn’t appear to help Brantley Bell. Bell had hit .361 over his last 23 games before getting Friday night’s game off. He went 0 for 5 at press time, including two strikeouts.

The Dragons are off on Sunday and will travel to South Bend on Monday for the first of a three-game series against the Cubs. The Cubs (23-12 entering Saturday’s play) are in third place in the Midwestern League Eastern Division, a game and a half behind the Dragons. West Michigan (24-12) is in second and a half game back.

Scott Moss (4-1, 2.50 ERA) is scheduled to start Monday’s game, as is South Bend’s Tyson Miller (2-2, 4.24 ERA). Moss led the ML in strikeouts (51) entering Saturday’s action.

The Dragons will have early wake-up calls during their series with the Cubs. Both Tuesday and Wednesday’s contests are scheduled for 10:35 a.m. starts due to “Education Day” promotions, in which area schools take field trips to the park.

On deck:

The U.S. Golf Association likes to suggest that its annual U.S. Open gives any golfer with sufficient talent a chance to participate in the tournament.

Technically the USGA is correct, but in reality it is really, really difficult for most golfers — even very proficient ones — to get spots in the Open.

Local qualifying has begun, with 8,979 players scheduled to compete for 525 spots in the sectional round. One such local qualifier is Monday at Maketewah Country Club in Cincinnati, where 168 players are entered to compete for 10 spots in the sectional round.

One of the sectionals is June 5 at Springfield Country Club, where players will go 36 holes against long odds to make the field of 156 in the Open, which is June 15-18 at Erin Hills in Wisconsin.

Complicating the task is that 51 of those 156 spots are already guaranteed to players — mostly tour pros — who are exempt because of their accomplishments.

Difficult as it is to make the Open field, it can be done. Dayton area golfers Brian Fogt and Greg Hickman each made it through the two stages and played