MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Captains Edge Dragons 5-4, Earn Series Split

Published on July 5, 2018 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, Ohio - Lake County's Nolan Jones blasted a two-run home run to break a 3-3 tie in the fifth inning and the Captains held on to defeat the Dayton Dragons 5-4 on Thursday night. A crowd of 7,488 was in attendance at Fifth Third Field.

The Dragons and Captains split the brief two-game set in Dayton after splitting two games in Lake County Monday and Tuesday.

The Dragons scored two runs in the first inning to take an early lead. Malik Collymore blooped a single just beyond the reach of the second baseman to drive in runners from second and third with two outs. Lake County responded with two runs in the top of the third to tie the game at 2-2.

The Dragons briefly regained the lead in the bottom of the third when Andy Sugilio delivered a two-out single to drive in Leandro Santana from second to make it 3-2, but Lake County came right back with a run in the fourth to tie the game again.

New Dragons reliever Aneurys Zabala made his debut in the Reds organization in the fifth. Zabala, acquired in a trade with the Dodgers on Wednesday, tied the Fifth Third Field record with a 101 mph fastball in his first inning with the Dragons, but allowed the two-run home run to Jones in the inning as Lake County jumped in front, 5-3.

The Dragons got a run back in the sixth when Lorenzo Cedrola, in his second game with the team, delivered a two-out single to drive in Alejo Lopez and make it 5-4. The Dragons nearly tied the game on the same play when Jose Garcia tried to score from second on the hit to left by Cedrola, but Lake County's Oscar Gonzalez made a strong throw to the plate and Garcia was tagged out to end the inning.

The Dragons got a lead-off double from Jeter Downs in the seventh but could not advance him. In the bottom of the ninth, Garcia drew a lead-off walk and was sacrificed to second by Cedrola, but Downs popped out and Santana lined out to center field to end the game.

Dragons starting pitcher Adrian Rodriguez lasted just four innings, allowing eight hits and three runs with two walks and one strikeout. Zabala worked just one inning and was charged with the loss. He allowed two hits and two runs while striking out two. Wendolyn Bautista worked three scoreless innings and Cory Thompson pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the Dragons.

The Dragons collected 11 hits on the night. Downs, Collymore, and Sugilio each had two. J.D. Williams had one hit to extend his hitting streak to six straight games.

The Dragons fell to 7-8 in the second half with the loss. They have won seven of their last 11 games.

Notes: Dragons starting pitcher Andrew Jordan was promoted to Advanced-A Daytona before Thursday's game. His turn in the starting rotation will be filled on Friday night by Austin Orewiler. Meanwhile, the Dragons activated right-handed pitcher Aneurys Zabala, who was acquired in a trade with the Dodgers on Wednesday that sent Major League pitcher Dylan Floro to Los Angeles. He will essentially replace Orewiler in the bullpen...The Reds also announced on Thursday that 2017 Dragons all-star starting pitcher Tony Santillan, who had been with Daytona, has been promoted to Double-A Pensacola.

Up Next: The Dragons (7-8, 38-45) travel to Midland, Michigan to open a four-game series with the Great Lakes Loons (1-14, 25-58) on Friday night at 7:05. Orewiler (3-2, 4.12) will be opposed by Loons starter Alfredo Tavarez (0-3, 4.75).

The next Dragons home game is Wednesday, July 11 against the Quad Cities River Bandits in the start to a six-game home stand.

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

Game Broadcast: 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.

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