MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Clinton Rallies Late to Beat Dragons, 7-5

Published on May 5, 2009 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, Ohio-Scott Savastano's run-scoring triple in the ninth inning broke a 5-5 tie as the Clinton LumberKings defeated the Dayton Dragons 7-5 in the first game of the three-game series on Tuesday. The loss was the fourth straight for the Dragons. They have led in their last three losses.

Dayton falls to 6-19 on the season while Clinton improved to 15-9.

The Dragons led 5-4 after seven innings before Clinton scored one run in the eighth to tie the game and two in the top of the ninth for the win.

Clinton's Denny Almonte got the scoring started with a first inning two-run home run to give the LumberKings the early lead.

The Dragons battled back with a run in the second on a two-out RBI single to right by Miguel Rojas to make it 2-1.

Dayton collected four hits, a walk, and two runs in the third to take the lead. Tony Brown's two-out, two-run single to center made it 3-2.

Clinton scored once in the fourth to tie the game and Almonte hit his second home run of the game in the fifth, a solo shot to right, to give Clinton a 5-4 lead.

The Dragons regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Cody Puckett singled to center with one out, stole second, and scored on a throwing error on Clinton first baseman Scott Savastano to tie the game. Humberto Sosa added a two-out run-scoring single to give Dayton a 5-4 lead.

It remained that way until the eighth inning. Dragons reliever Andrew Bowman walked Travis Howell to start the inning. Two batters later with Howell and third and two outs, Aguido Gonzalez replaced Bowman and allowed a game-tying single to right to Luis Nunez to make it a 5-5 game.

In the top of the ninth, Gonzalez walked Maximo Mendez to start the inning. Mendez stole second and after Almonte struck out, Mendez stole third. Savastano followed with a long triple to center field to score Mendez, and Nate Tenbrink's sacrifice fly made it 7-5.

The Dragons got a lead-off single in the bottom of the ninth from Rojas but could not advance him and fell to the LumberKings in the first game of a 10-game home stand.

Gonzalez (0-2) suffered the loss and was charged with his first blown save of the season. He allowed two runs on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts in an inning of work.

Dayton finished with 11 hits. Puckett had the first four-hit game of the year for a Dragons batter, going 4 for 5 with two runs scored.

The Dragons meet Clinton again Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at Fifth Third Field. J.C. Sulbaran (0-0, 6.75) will start for Dayton against Clinton's Kenn Kasparek (1-2, 5.19). Sulbaran will make just the second start of his professional career. The 19-year-old former member of Team Netherlands pitched in both the Olympics and the World Baseball Classic.

Notes: Dragons catcher Jordan Wideman left the game with an injury in the second inning. He appeared to have been spiked on a collision at the plate...Tony Brown made a tremendous diving catch in left field in the first inning that was one of the season's top defensive plays by the Dragons.

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Midwest League Stories from May 5, 2009


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