MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons GameDay

Published on June 8, 2009 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Monday, June 8, 2009 Game # 57

Dow Diamond Midland, Mich. 7:05 p.m.

Radio: WING 1410 AM "ESPN Radio"

Dayton Dragons (23-33) at Great Lakes Loons (29-27)

RH Oscar Castro (2-2, 6.59) vs. RH Nathan Eovaldi (1-4, 5.79)

Today's Game: The Dragons (affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds) meet the Loons (affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers) in the third game of a four-game series. Season Series: Great Lakes 6, Dayton 3.

Dayton on the Current Road Trip: 1-1

Last Game: Cody Puckett's run-scoring single in the top of the eighth inning broke a 2-2 tie as the Dragons defeated the Loons 3-2 to even the series at one win apiece. The game was delayed by rain for one hour, 35 minutes in the middle of the first inning, costing the Dragons the use of starting pitcher J.C. Sulbaran, who warmed up before the rain but never threw a pitch in the game. Dayton had eight hits by eight different players. Kevin Coddington and Yen-Wen Kuo each had RBI singles for Dayton in the second. Andrew Bowman enjoyed a sparkling relief stint for Dayton, throwing five innings and allowing one hit and no runs.

Today's Dragons Starting Pitcher: Oscar Castro makes his 12th Midwest League appearance and seventh start tonight. In his last appearance Thursday vs. South Bend, Castro was not involved in the decision (1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO). Castro's last start was May 30th against Cedar Rapids and he was not involved in the decision (6 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO). Castro started against Great Lakes on April 24th and was not involved in the decision (5.1 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO). Castro is a 20-year-old native of Mexico. He was signed as a free agent by the Reds in December of 2005 at the age of 16. Castro spent the 2008 season at Billings, going 4-2, 4.14 in 13 starts. He walked only 18 batters in 67 innings.

Skipper: Todd Benzinger makes his professional baseball managerial debut in 2009. Benzinger enjoyed a nine-year major league playing career from 1987-1995 with the Reds, Red Sox, Royals, Dodgers, and Giants. Todd is a former first baseman who recorded the final putout of the 1990 World Series with the Reds to complete their four-game sweep of the Oakland A's. Benzinger is a native of the Cincinnati area and currently resides in West Chester, Ohio. He has enjoyed a highly-successful career coaching girls' high school basketball since 1999.

Individual Notes

- Second baseman Cody Puckett is batting .363 with 13 doubles, one triple, and six home runs in his last 25 games, raising his batting average from .230 to .293. His slugging percentage over those 25 games is .729.

- Outfielder Dave Sappelt is batting .329 over his last 20 games. He has raised his batting average from .252 to .281.

- Outfielder/first baseman Stephen Chapman has hit in five straight games, batting .400 over those games.

- Infielder Carlos Mendez is batting .326 with 13 RBI over his last 11 games.

- Starting pitcher Matt Fairel has not allowed a run over his last three starts covering 18 innings.

Team Notes

- The Dragons are 14-8 over their last 22 games. They are 22-21 over their last 43 games after starting the season 1-12.

- From Opening Night (April 9) through May 15, Dragons starting pitchers were a combined 4-14 with a 5.87 ERA. Since May 15th, Dragons starting pitchers are 10-5 with a 2.67 ERA.

- The Dragons have posted a 2.73 ERA as a team in their last 22 games.

- The Dragons have committed just five errors in their last 11 games and no more than one in any game. The Dragons rank second in the league in team fielding. Second baseman Cody Puckett and shortstop Miguel Rojas both lead the league in fielding percentage at their positions.

- Dragons starting pitchers have allowed two runs or less in each of the last six games.

- Dragons opponents have scored four runs or less in each of the last six games and three or less in five of the six.

- Eleven of the Dragons' 33 losses have come by one run. The Dragons are 6-11 in one-run games.

Upcoming Probable Pitchers (All game times are Dayton time)

Tuesday (7:05 p.m.): Dayton RH Josh Ravin (2-7, 4.26) at Great Lakes RH Justin Miller (3-2, 4.45)

Wednesday (7:05 p.m.): Dayton RH Curtis Partch (4-3, 5.02) at Fort Wayne TBA

Thursday (7:05 p.m.): Dayton RH Lance Janke (1-3, 3.53) at Fort Wayne TBA

Friday (7:05 p.m.): Dayton RH J.C. Sulbaran (2-0, 3.16) at Fort Wayne TBA

Saturday(7:05 p.m.) Dayton LH Matt Fairel (4-2, 2.20) at Fort Wayne TBA

Check out the Dayton Dragons Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from June 8, 2009


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