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MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Close games continue to go against Dragons

June 6, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Lansing, MI - The Dayton Dragons (27-32) were close once again, but as the old saying goes, that only counts in horseshoes. The Dragons played their 18th one run game of the season in the series opener at Oldsmobile Park with the Lansing Lugnuts (35-22) on Tuesday night, with Lansing picking up a hard fought 3-2 win in front of 2,487 at the ballpark

The Lugnuts were the first team to get on the board, picking a single run in the bottom half of the third off Dayton starter Travis Wood (ND). In his only previous appearance against the ‘Nuts, at Fifth Third Field on April 11th, Wood was outstanding striking out 10 and not allowing a run in his 5.0 innings of work. The left hander got himself into a tight spot in the Lansing third with a pair of walks, putting runners at first and second with two down. Cory Patton dumped a single out to center, which landed in front of B.J. Szymanski and scored Jesus Gonzalez from second base for a 1-0 lead.

Lansing's lead was short lived as the Dragons came back in the top half of the fourth with a pair of runs to take the lead. Jay Bruce greeted Lugnut starter Kristian Bell with a line drive double to center that one hopped the wall at 404 feet. Habelito Hernandez laid down a text book on the left side of the infield. The bunt moved Bruce to third and he was able to come across with the first run of the night for Dayton when Anthony Hatch threw wildly from third in an effort to get Hernandez. Szymanski gave Dayton the advantage at 2-1 on an RBI gap double to left center scoring Hernandez.

Wood's last inning of work came in the fifth and the Lugnuts managed a single tally off the Dayton left hander to tie the game at 2-2. Gonzalez led off the inning with a single and would come home to score on the one out triple by Jacob Butler. With the go ahead run at third, Wood got tough and retired Patton and Joey Metropoulos with the go ahead run at third.

Justin Mallett (LP, 0-1), a Dragon in 2004, but new to the Dragons roster as of Tuesday morning after spending the entire season at extended spring training, made just one mistake in the first 2.0 innings of his 2006 season. On a 3-2 pitch to Brian Pettway, the lead off man in the sixth inning, Mallett surrendered a solo homer that snapped the 2-2 tie and gave Lansing its first lead since 1-0 in the third.

Dayton tried to push across the tying run in its final three at bats but came up empty against a trio of Lugnut pitchers. Bell, the starter, pitched the seventh inning before giving way to Sean Stidfole (ND) who kept the Dragons off the board in the eighth. In the ninth inning Paul Phillips (SV, 14) came on to try and close out the Miami Valley's Team. Phillips walked J.D. Reininger to lead off the inning. Josh Holden came on to pinch run and was thrown out trying to steal second for the first out of the inning, as Dayton decided not to SAC bunt. Gerardo Cabrera struck out looking and DeJesus popped up to short to end the game as the Lugnuts held on for the 3-2 win.

The Dragons and Lugnuts will match up again on Wednesday night at Oldsmobile Park with a 7:05 PM first pitch. The Dragons will start RHP Carlos Fisher (4-3, 2.97 ERA) in the second game of the four game series, while Lansing counters with RHP Russ Savickas (2-0, 2.20 ERA). 1410 ESPN Radio WING AM will carry the game live beginning with the Dragons pre game show at 6:30 PM. All Dragons games in 2006 can also be heard live on the internet at www.daytondragons.com.

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Midwest League Stories from June 6, 2006


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