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Dayton Dragons

Dragons Score 6 in Final 2 Innings, Extend Winning Streak to 9

April 20, 2018 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Fort Wayne, Ind. - The Dayton Dragons scored two runs in the eighth inning to tie the game and then added four more in the ninth as they defeated the Fort Wayne TinCaps 9-5 on Friday night. The win was the ninth straight for the Dragons, matching the third longest winning streak in franchise history, and their longest since 2007.

Dragons designated hitter Hendrik Clementina collected three hits to lead the Dragons to the win. Clementina had a run-scoring single in the fifth inning and then delivered a big two-out, two-run double to tie the game in the eighth.

The Dragons broke the tie with four in the ninth, keyed by a tie-breaking RBI single by Montrell Marshall and a two-run single by Stuart Fairchild, all before an out was recorded in the inning.

The Dragons came to bat in the fifth inning trailing 1-0, and struggling to put an offensive attack together against Fort Wayne starting pitcher Tom Cosgrove. Over the first four innings, the Dragons had only one base runner, and Cosgrove had struck out seven. But Narciso Crook opened the Dayton fifth with a double to the left field fence, and Leandro Santana singled to left. Clementina then singled hard to left field to drive in Crook and move Santana to third. The next two Dragons batters walked, with Michael Beltre's free pass forcing in a run to make it 2-1. After the next two batters were retired, Montrell Marshall walked on a 3-2 pitch to force in another run and give the Dragons a 3-1 lead.

Fort Wayne got a two-run home run from Carlos Belen and took advantage of some Dragons defensive miscues in the bottom of the seventh to score four runs in the inning and take a 5-3 lead.

In the top of the eighth, the Clementina came to the plate with two runners on base and two outs and lined a double down the left field line to tie the game at 5-5. Clementina raised his batting average to .480 on the year. He has driven in 11 runs in the seven games he has played in.

Beltre opened the ninth with an infield hit and Jeter Downs walked. Jose Garcia was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no one out, and Marshall singled through the right side of a drawn-in infield to bring in Beltre and give the Dragons a 6-5 lead. Fairchild followed with a two-run single, and Crook added a sacrifice fly to close out the scoring in the inning.

Dragons starting pitcher Mac Sceroler worked the first four innings, allowing one run on three hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Tyler Buffett pitched two scoreless innings before giving up four runs in the seventh as he was victimized by three defensive mistakes in the inning. Ryan Nutof (2-0) retired all four batters he faced including two on strikeouts to earn the win. Connor Ryan pitched a scoreless ninth inning.

The win allowed the Dragons to remain tied with the West Michigan Whitecaps for first place in the Midwest League East Division. Both clubs have identical records of 9-3.

Notes: The Dragons have come from behind to win in seven of the nine games during the winning streak. They have scored the tie-breaking run in their final offensive inning in five of the nine wins, including Friday night.

Up Next: The Dragons (9-3) play at Fort Wayne (4-11) again on Saturday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. in the second game of the three-game series. Tyler Mondile (0-1, 9.35) will start for Dayton against Fort Wayne's Osvaldo Hernandez (0-2, 6.48).

The next Dragons home game is Friday, April 27 against Fort Wayne.

All Dragons games are broadcast on radio on Fox Sports 980 WONE and on the internet at wone.com. Games are also available on the Dayton Dragons mobile app.

For Dragons 2018 ticket information, call (937) 228-2287.

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