MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Shunick Pitches Dragons to 4-2 Win

Published on August 18, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Midland, Mich.-Dayton starting pitcher Clayton Shunick and two relievers combined to allow just five hits as the Dragons defeated the Great Lakes Loons 4-2 on Wednesday night. The Dragons have split the first four games of their current six-game road trip as they defeated the Loons, who own the best overall record in professional baseball at 78-42 overall and 35-16 in the second half. The game was played in two hours, six minutes, making it the shortest nine-inning game for the Dragons this season.

Shunick, in just his fourth start for the Dragons, did not allow a man to reach base until Nick Buss' bunt single leading off the fourth inning. Over the first five innings, he allowed just two base runners as the Dragons built a 3-0 lead. Shunick lasted six and two-thirds innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs with one walk and three strikeouts to even his record at 1-1.

The Dragons scored in the first inning to take an early lead when Didi Gregorius doubled to right field and scored on Henry Rodriguez's single to center to make it 1-0.

In the third, Dayton's Mark Fleury delivered a one-out, two-run single to right field with the bases loaded as the Dragons built a 3-0 lead.

Great Lakes finally got to Shunick for a run in the sixth when Rafael Ynoa was hit by a pitch with two outs, stole second, and scored on Angelo Songco's single to center to make it 3-1. The Loons added another against Shunick in the seventh to pull to within one at 3-2.

The Dragons tacked on an insurance run in the top of the ninth when Ryan LaMarre doubled, went to third on Josh Garton's ground out, and scored on Frank Pfister's single to give Dayton a 4-2 advantage.

In the ninth, the Loons brought the tying run to the plate after Blake Smith led off the inning with a single to center, but Rodriguez made an outstanding play at second place on a ground ball up the middle by Brian Cavazos-Galvez to start a double play. Rodriguez followed with a great back-handed, diving stop of a ground ball through the middle by J.T. Wise, and he threw out Wise by a step to end the game.

Blaine Howell worked the final two innings for the Dragons, allowing no runs and only one base runner, to earn his first save.

Dayton collected 11 hits. Gregorius, Rodriguez, Pfister, and Alex Oliveras each had two.

The Dragons (12-38) play at Great Lakes again on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. Tim Crabbe (2-5, 4.28) will start for Dayton against Greg Wilborn (2-1, 4.02). The next home game is Saturday, August 21 when the Dragons host Lake County at Fifth Third Field in the start to a four-game series.

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Midwest League Stories from August 18, 2010


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