Nice rally, nice crowd, good fireworks, but a tough loss.

That was the story for the Cedar Rapids Kernels Saturday in a 6-4 setback to the Quad Cities River Bandits before a season-high crowd of 4,315 fans on Fireworks Night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Kernels were just one out away from collecting a 4-3 victory, but the River Bandits tied the game with two outs in the top of the ninth inning on an RBI single by Nick Tanielu.

Quad Cities scored twice in the 10th inning to claim the victory in a battle of teams that have already clinched spots in the Midwest League playoffs. The River Bandits finished first in the West Division in the first half of the season and the Kernels were second.

The River Bandits led 3-0 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Kernels erupted for four runs on five straight hits.

Rafael Valera and Tanner English had infield singles to get the rally started. Nick Gordon lined an RBI single to center, making it 3-1. Edgar Corcino ripped a two-run double that made it 3-3.

Aaron Greenwood replaced Brock Dykshoorn on the mound for Quad Cities, but Alex Real greeted Greenwood with an RBI single to center that gave the Kernels a 4-3 advantage.

Cam Booser pitched the ninth and 10th innings for Cedar Rapids. He was charged with a blown save for squandering the 4-3 lead, then was tagged with the loss.

Cedar Rapids and Quad Cities meet again Sunday at 2:05 p.m.

QUAD CITIES (6): Ritchie, dh, 4 1 0 0, Bregman, ss, 5 0 1 1, Nottingham, c, 3 0 2 1, Tanielu, 3b, 6 0 2 2, Martin, lf, 5 1 2 1, Bottger, 1b, 3 1 2 0, McMullen, rf, 5 0 0 0, Trompiz, 2b, 4 1 2 0, Boyd, cf, 5 2 2 1. Totals 40 6 13 6.

KERNELS (4): English, cf, 4 1 1 0, Gordon, ss, 4 1 1 1, Corcino, rf, 4 1 1 2, Real, c, 4 0 1 1, Doe, 1b, 4 0 0 0, Larson, lf, 4 0 1 0, White, 3b, 4 0 0 0, Fernandez, dh, 4 0 1 0, Valera, 2b, 4 1 1 0. Totals 36 4 7 4.

Quad Cities    001 110 001 2 - 6 13 1
Kernels        000 004 000 0 - 4 7 0

Dykxhoorn, Greenwood (6), Thompson (8) and Nottingham. Steele, Wilson (5), Booser (9) and Real. W - Thompson (2-2). L - Booser (1-2). 2B - Bregman (1), Corcino (5). HR - Martin (4). SB - Trompiz (2), Boyd (14), English (21), Gordon (16). E - Bottger (2). T - 2:48. A - 4,315.