MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Biggest 9th Inning of 2010 Lifts Dragons to Comeback Win

Published on August 30, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Lansing, Mich.-The Dayton Dragons scored seven runs in the ninth inning to overcome a five-run deficit as they defeated the Lansing Lugnuts 9-7 on Monday night. Dayton sent 12 batters to the plate in the ninth, climaxed by a two-out, two-run single by Josh Garton that gave the Dragons the lead. It was the largest deficit the Dragons have overcome to win a game in 2010.

Dayton trailed 7-1 after six innings before Frank Pfister's RBI single in the seventh made it 7-2. Still trailing 7-2 in the top of the ninth, Garton walked to start the inning and Dominic D'Anna followed with a single to center. Tommy Nurre's base hit brought in Garton from second to make it 7-3. With one out, Alex Oliveras singled to left to load the bases, and Justin Reed followed with an infield hit that brought in D'Anna to make it 7-4. Didi Gregorius was hit by a pitch to force in Nurre and pull the Dragons to within two at 7-5. After Henry Rodriguez flied to left for the second out, Mark Fleury walked to force in Oliveras and make it 7-6. Garton followed with a sharp single to center that scored Reed and Gregorius. Fleury went to third, and when the throw from center field got past the third baseman, Fleury scored to make it 9-7.

Blaine Howell pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth for Dayton, notching his fourth save in four save opportunities. Tzu-Kai Chiu, who had pitched a scoreless eighth, earned the win (1-0).

The Dragons scored in the first inning, keyed by a triple by Gregorius, to take an early lead, but Lansing collected five consecutive singles in the second, scoring four runs to jump ahead 4-1. Justin Jackson's two-run single was the key hit in the inning.

In the fifth, Lansing added three more runs to take a commanding 7-1 lead. Del Campo's two-out, two-run single appeared to break the game open, setting the stage for Dayton's biggest comeback of the season. Dayton had not won a game in 2010 in which they trailed by more than four runs at any point during the game.

Dragons starting pitcher Daniel Corcino worked the first five innings, allowing 10 hits and seven earned runs with three walks and two strikeouts but was not involved in the decision.

The Dragons collected 14 hits. Henry Rodriguez went 1 for 5 to extend his hitting streak to 15 straight games, matching Cameron Satterwhite for the longest of the season for the Dragons and tying for the third longest in franchise history. Reed, Garton, D'Anna, Nurre, and Pfister each had two hits.

The Dragons (20-42, 50-81) have won eight of their last 10 games. They play their final road game of 2010 on Tuesday against the Lugnuts at 7:05 p.m. Ricky Bowen (4-8, 5.88) will start for Dayton against Casey Lawrence (0-1, 7.71). A Dragons win on Tuesday would give the club three consecutive series wins for the first time in 2010.

The next home game is Wednesday vs. Bowling Green at 7:00 p.m. at Fifth Third Field.

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Midwest League Stories from August 30, 2010


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