MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Cubs Rally Late, Top Dragons 4-1

Published on June 29, 2018 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


South Bend, Ind. - The South Bend Cubs scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to overcome a 1-0 deficit and defeat the Dayton Dragons 4-1 on Friday night. The Dayton loss snapped their four-game winning streak.

Dragons starting pitcher Packy Naughton was exceptional, offering his best outing of the season. He worked six scoreless innings, throwing just 61 pitches, while allowing only three hits and no walks with three strikeouts.

There was no scoring until the Dragons pushed across a run in the top of the eighth inning. Alejo Lopez started the frame with a double high off the left field fence. Jeter Downs followed with a single to left that moved Lopez to third. Andy Sugilio's hard ground ball to shortstop was mishandled for an error as Lopez scored to make it 1-0, and Downs went to second.

The Dragons looked like they might enjoy a big inning when the next hitter, Leandro Santana ran the count to 3-0 with men at first and second and no outs. But it was all downhill from there. Santana struck out looking and was ejected from the game, and the next two Dayton batters were retired as the Dragons settled for one run.

In the bottom of the eighth, with Connor Bennett on the mound for Dayton, Cam Balego led off with a double down the right field line that the Dragons argued as foul. With Balego at second, Delvin Zinn bunted toward the mound. Dragons first baseman Montrell Marshall cut in front of Bennett, fielded the bunt, but had no play at any base, leaving runners at first and third. Bennett then walked the next hitter to load the bases and was replaced by Cory Thompson.

Thompson allowed a two-run double to Brandon Hughes, then a run-scoring single to Rafael Narea to make it 3-1. The fourth run in the inning scored on a ground out. The Dragons were retired in order in the ninth.

Bennett (0-1) was charged with the loss. He surrendered three runs in an inning of work, giving up three hits and a walk. Thompson was charged with one run in his only inning, ending a streak of six straight scoreless outings for the all-star reliever.

The Dragons finished with six hits. No player had more than one. Lopez, Marshall, and Mark Kolozsvary each had a double.

Up Next: The Dragons (4-5, 35-42) and Cubs (5-4, 39-39) meet again on Saturday night at 7:05 in the third game of the four-game series. Adrian Rodriguez (4-4, 6.38) will start for Dayton against South Bend's Erling Moreno (0-0 6.75).

The next Dragons home game is July 4th at 7:00 p.m. at Fifth Third Field against the Lake County Captains. An on-field fireworks show will follow the game. 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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Midwest League Stories from June 29, 2018


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