April 25, 2024 - 70 Games Today

Dragons Gameday July 27th

July 27, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release

The Dayton Dragons (affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds) meet the Kane County Cougars (affiliate of the Oakland A's) in the third game of a three-game series and game six of a six-game road trip for Dayton. This is the Dragons last road game against a Western Division team in 2009.

Season Series: Dayton 3, Kane County 2 (Dragons have won both games in Kane County)

Dayton on the Current Road Trip: 4-1 (hitting .293; team ERA of 2.14).

Last Game: Dayton defeated Kane County 9-4 on Sunday. Miguel Rojas went 3 for 3 and Kevin Coddington had two hits and three RBI for Dayton as part of a 13-hit attack. Carlos Mendez also added three hits and scored three runs while Alex Oliveras had a double, triple, and two RBI. Curtis Partch won his fourth straight start, tossing six innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Today's Starting Pitcher: Oscar Castro makes his 22nd Midwest League appearance and 13th start tonight. In his last start Wednesday at Wisconsin, he was not involved in the decision (3.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO). Over Castro's last eight games covering 23.2 innings, he has posted a 10.27 ERA, allowing 28 runs. He began this season in the Dragons starting rotation before moving to the bullpen on May 15th. Castro has filled the role of spot starter since moving to the pen. He currently is in the spot vacated by Josh Ravin when Ravin went on the disabled list on June 27. 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

- Miguel Rojas is batting .444 in his last 18 games (28 for 63) and is hitting .375 in the second half.

- Byron Wiley is batting .351 with 12 doubles, two triples, eight HR, and 36 RBI in his last 31 games since June 14, posting a slugging percentage of .693 and raising his batting average from .211 to .273. Wiley is batting .354 in the second half. Wiley also has an eight game hitting streak.

- Carlos Mendez has hit in nine straight games, going 16 for 39, .410.

Team Notes

- The Dragons have won seven of their last eight games.

- With a win tonight, the Dragons would complete their third series sweep of 2009 and second on the road. They would also get back to the .500 mark in the second half for the first time since they were 3-3.

- The Dragons are 21-20 vs. Western Division teams with seven games remaining against the West.

- The Dragons are 13-10 on the road vs. the West. Tonight's game is their final road game vs. a Western Division team.

- Despite an overall record of 42-57, the Dragons are 33-32 over their last 65 games since starting the year at 9-25.

- After 29 of 70 games in the second half, the Dragons are one-half game ahead of South Bend for the second (final) seed in the 2nd half playoff race.

- The Dragons are 11-13 in July with a team batting average of .275 and a team ERA of 5.05.

Team Batting Notes

- The Dragons are batting .284 as a team over the last 37 games.

- The Dragons are batting .281 in the second half (29 games) after batting .250 in the first half (70 games).

- During the Dragons 7-1 stretch, they are batting .301 as a team and averaging 6.0 runs per game. They have scored 4+ runs in every game.

Team Pitching Notes

- During the Dragons 7-1 stretch, the team ERA is 2.58. They have allowed four earned runs or less in every game.

- Over the last six games, Dayton relievers have posted a 0.40 ERA, allowing one earned run in 22.1 innings.

- Over the last eight games, Dayton starting pitchers have posted a 3.13 ERA. They have not allowed more than three earned runs in any start.

- The Dragons second half team ERA is 4.58. The first half ERA was 4.50.

Check out the Dayton Dragons Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Midwest League message board...

Midwest League Stories from July 27, 2009

South Bend takes series finale, 6-5 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
Bees win to take series from TinCaps - Burlington Bees
Cougars walk off to snap losing skid - Kane County Cougars
Hawks win game, series, trip - South Bend Silver Hawks
Dramatic ninth inning ends with Dragons' 3-2 loss - Dayton Dragons
Chiefs sweep Timber Rattlers 2-1 Monday - Peoria Chiefs
Chiefs add second-rounder Lemahieu - Peoria Chiefs
Peoria edges Rattlers, 2-1 - Peoria Chiefs
Lansing Completes Sweep of Snappers - Beloit Sky Carp
Loons Swept In Quad Cities Again - Great Lakes Loons
Hisle and Augustine to appear at Rattlers games as part of Brewers Sundays - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
Lugnuts Sweep Snappers, 10-1 - Lansing Lugnuts
Dragons and the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Team Up for 'Home Run For Life' - Dayton Dragons
Nolan Brannon joins Kernels from Orem - Cedar Rapids Kernels
Crosby Named MWL Pitcher of the Week - West Michigan Whitecaps
Dragons Gameday July 27th - Dayton Dragons
Whitecaps Welcome Burlington to Town - West Michigan Whitecaps

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.

Dragons Gameday July 27th

Midwest League Stories from July 27, 2009

Other Recent Dayton Dragons Stories