MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Break Out the Brooms, Dragons Sweep D-Rays

Published on June 28, 2006 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, OH - About the only thing that could have stopped the Dayton Dragons (4-3, 39-38) from sweeping the series from the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays (1-6, 33-43) on Wednesday night was rain. Mother Nature tried her best, but after a one hour and 53 minute rain delay, the Dragons beat the Devil Rays by the score of 6-4 at Fifth Third Field. The win for Dayton marks their seventh consecutive victory over their Eastern Division foes from Southwest Michigan.

Dayton got the scoring started in the first inning off Devil Rays starter Jake McGee (LP, 6-6). Mike DeJesus, Adam Rosales, and Jay Bruce produced three singles in a row, the latter of which drove in the game's first run. After B.J. Szymanski drew a walk to load the bases, Mike Griffin hit a single up the middle, scoring two more Dragons and giving the Miami Valley's team the 3-0 edge. Bobby Mosby was then walked, and the bases were again loaded with nobody out. After strikeouts of Eric Eymann and Craig Tatum, Gerardo Cabrera connected for a line drive to right center. The single scored Szymanski and Griffin, and gave Dayton a 5-0 lead. McGee struck out the side when DeJesus went down on strikes, but the damage was done. Dayton scored five times in the inning off the lefthander McGee, who had previously worked 11.0 innings without allowing a run to the Dragons.

It was still a 5-0 Dragons lead when the rains came in the middle of the third. The one hour and 53 minute delay ended the nights of McGee and Dragons starter Zach Ward (ND) early. McGee was finished after two innings of baseball, allowing the five earned runs on six hits. Ward worked 3.0 innings, allowing four hits and striking out two. Because the starting pitcher must work 5.0 innings to get credit for a victory, Ward received no decision for his efforts as the long delay made it impossible for him to retake the mound.

Dayton added a run in the fourth inning off Devil Rays reliever Jeff Kamrath (ND). DeJesus singled with one out, but was out at second when Rosales bounced into a fielder's choice. Bruce, already with one double and RBI on the night, hit his Midwest League leading 30th double of the season, scoring Rosales from first for Bruce's 50th RBI, and giving Dayton the 6-0 lead.

Southwest Michigan dented the plate in the top of the fifth off Russell Haltiwanger (ND). Matt Devins was hit by a pitch with one out, and advanced to third when Mike Griffin committed a throwing error on Jason St. Clair's ground ball. Cesar Suarez followed with a two RBI single, cutting into the Dragons lead at 6-2. Garrett Groce flew out to centerfield as Jay Bruce made a nice diving catch, and then Bruce got up and threw to first base to double off Suarez and end the inning.

In the top of the sixth, Haltiwanger's third inning of the night, Alex Jamieson hit a two-out double and Jackson Brennan followed with a walk. In came Jose Rojas (WP, 1-0), and Neil Walton greeted him rudely with a double to left-center, scoring both Devil Rays runners, and making it a 6-4 Dragons lead. The runs were charged to Haltiwanger, but Rojas settled down and retired seven in a row to earn his first victory as a Dragon. Bo Lanier (S, 4) pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to save the game for the Dragons.

The Dragons hit the road for an eight game trip that will take them to Cedar Rapids and Kane County. The Dragons and the Kernels get underway tomorrow night at Veterans Memorial Stadium at 8 P.M. RHP Robert Manuel (0-1, 3.38 ERA) will get the start for Dayton, while Cedar Rapids counters with RHP Andrew Hill (2-4, 2.57 ERA). 1410 ESPN Radio WING AM will broadcast the game live beginning with the Pre Game Show at 7:30 PM, and first pitch at 8 PM. All Dragons games in 2006 can also be heard live on the internet at www.daytondragons.com.

Check out the Dayton Dragons Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Midwest League Stories from June 28, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central