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Dayton Dragons

Dragons Gameday for Friday, May 20

May 20, 2011 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Friday, May 20, 2011 * Game # 41

Fifth Third Field * Dayton, Ohio * 7:07 p.m.

Radio: WONE-AM 980 * TV: WHIO Digital Channel 7.2

Lake County Captains (18-21) at Dayton Dragons (20-20)

RH Cole Cook (1-4, 4.63) vs. RH Daniel Renken (1-4, 3.43)

Today's Game: The Dragons (affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds) meet the Captains (affiliate of the Cleveland Indians) in the first game of a four-game set.

Season Series: Dayton 4, Lake County 3. Streaks: Dayton is 14-4 over their last 18 home games. Lake County is 3-9 over their last 12 games.

Last Night: Great Lakes defeated Dayton 4-3 in the rubber match of the three-game series. Christian Lara hit a home run and drove in three runs to lead the Loons. Great Lakes starting pitcher Ryan Christenson allowed just one run in five innings for the win. Dayton's David Vidal hit a solo home run. The Dragons had 10 hits but stranded 11. Vidal, Frank Pfister, Yorman Rodriguez, and Jefry Sierra each had two hits for the Dragons.

Today's Dragons Starting Pitcher: Daniel Renken makes his eighth start of 2011. In Renken's last start last Friday at Fort Wayne, he was not involved in the decision (6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO). Renken was a late signee in 2010 by the Reds after being drafted in June in the 25th round out of Cal State Fullerton. Renken began his pro career with Dragons on August 22 and appeared in five games, logging just six innings. In the spring of 2010 at CSF, Renken posted a record of 12-2 with 3.96 ERA. He tied for fifth in the nation in victories and earned Collegiate Baseball 3rd Team All-American honors while earning 1st Team All-Big West Conference for the second time in his college career. Renken led the Titans in starts and tied for the team lead in victories as Cal State Fullerton finished one victory short of qualifying for the eight-team College World Series, losing to eventual CWS runner-up UCLA in the Super Regional, two games to one. He finished his college career at CSF with a 27-10 record.

Manager/Coaches: Delino DeShields is in his first season with the Dragons and third year in the Reds organization. He served as the manager of the Billings Mustangs in the Pioneer League last season, leading the club to a record of 38-37. As a player, DeShields spent 13 years in the Major Leagues from 1990-2002 with the Expos, Dodgers, Orioles, Cardinals, and Cubs. He finished in the top three in the league in stolen bases six times and is 46th on the all-time career list with 463. DeShields hit .290 or higher five times. DeShields finished second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting in 1990...Pitching coach Tony Fossas is in his third season with the Dragons and third year in the Reds organization. Fossas pitched in the Major Leagues from 1988-1999 as a relief pitcher, appearing in 567 big league games with Boston, St. Louis, and five other clubs...Hitting coach Alex Pelaez is in his first season with the Dragons. He served as the hitting coach with Billings last season. Pelaez played professionally for eight seasons from 1998-2005 (played in big leagues in 2002 with the Padres).

Individual Notes

* Dominic D'Anna has maintained a batting average of .300 or higher for all but one day of the 2011 season. D'Anna is batting .692 with men in scoring position and two outs (9 for 13). He has hit in nine straight games, going 11 for 33, .333 with a home run.

* Billy Hamilton has 32 stolen bases to lead all of professional baseball. He stole eight bases in the three-game set vs. Great Lakes (23 innings). Hamilton led the Reds organization in stolen bases (48) in 2010 despite playing in a "short-season" league.

* David Vidal has hit five home runs in his last 11 games. Vidal is tied for second in the league in home runs in May.

* Drew Hayes has allowed only two hits and one run over his last 10 appearances covering 11.2 innings with five walks and 20 strikeouts. On the year, Hayes has limited opposing batters to a .113 average (6 for 53) to rank second among Midwest League relievers.

Team Notes

* The Dragons started the year by going 2-8 in their first 10 G, then 12-1 over the next 13, then 1-8 over the next 9, and 5-3 over the last eight.

* Dayton is 15-7 at home this season; 5-13 on the road. They have won 14 of the last 18 at home. The Dragons are batting .254 at home, .207 on the road. The team ERA is 2.60 at home; 4.59 on the road.

* Dayton pitchers have allowed just 18 runs (17 earned) in the last eight games (68.1 IP, 17 ER, 2.24 ERA).

* Dayton has the league's best record when leading after five innings (17-1) and when leading after eight innings (18-0).

* The Dragons are 21 for 123, .171 with men in scoring position over the last 17 games.

* The Dragons have stolen 76 bases. They are tied with Fresno of the Pacific Coast League for the league in all of professional baseball.

* In the Dragons 40 games this season, the team with the lead at the end of seven innings has gone 37-1 (two games tied after seven). (Note: for seven-inning games, end of fifth). The team leading at the end of the fifth inning in all games has gone 32-3 with five games tied after five.

* Four members of the Dragons Opening Night roster are rated among the Reds top 30 prospects according to Baseball America. They include shortstop Billy Hamilton (#2), outfielder Yorman Rodriguez (#5), starting pitcher Daniel Corcino (#15) and outfielder Juan Duran (#28). Additionally, starting pitcher Daniel Tuttle was named as the #31 prospect in the magazine's special supplement.

Upcoming Probable Pitchers (All game times are Dayton time) (All games on WONE 980 AM and www.daytondragons.com)

Saturday (7:00 p.m.): Dayton RH Josh Smith (3-3, 1.91) vs. Lake County RH Michael Goodnight (3-3, 2.93) -TV (WHIO Digital Channel 7.2)

Sunday (2:00 p.m.): Dayton TBA vs. Lake County LH Mike Rayl (4-0, 2.29)

Monday (7:00 p.m.): Dayton RH Daniel Corcino (6-2, 2.83) vs. Lake County RH Steven Wright (1-0, 1.71)

Check out the Dayton Dragons Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from May 20, 2011


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