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Dayton Dragons

Dayton's Jorge Blasts 9th Inning 2-Run Home Run for Lead and Win, 6-5

August 29, 2023 - Midwest League (MWL)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Midland, Mich. - Carlos Jorge blasted a two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning to lift the Dayton Dragons to a come-from-behind 6-5 victory over the Great Lakes Loons on Tuesday night.

With the win, the Dragons remained three and one-half games behind first place West Michigan in the Midwest League East Division standings. There are 11 games to play in the second half season.

The Dragons tied a season high with four home runs in the game, including back-to-back tape-measure shots by Ruben Ibarra (436') and Austin Hendrick (446') in the sixth inning. Hendrick had two homers on the night. But the biggest home run came from the 5'8" Jorge in the top of the ninth, his first homer since being called up from Daytona.

The Dragons had taken a 4-0 lead, only to see Great Lakes score three in the bottom of the sixth and two more in the seventh to jump ahead 5-4. The Dragons still trailed as they came to bat in the ninth. Hector Rodriguez hit the first pitch of the inning for a single to left field to put the tying run on base. Jorge followed with a home run to right to give the Dragons the lead.

In the bottom of the ninth, Dragons reliever John Murphy walked the first hitter but worked out of potential trouble when he got a double play grounder from the next batter, keyed by an excellent backhanded stop by Dayton shortstop Edwin Arroyo. Murphy then got a strikeout to end the game and earn the save.

Dragons starting pitcher Kevin Abel was outstanding. He left the game in the sixth with the Loons still scoreless, leaving a runner at first with two outs when he was removed after throwing his 90th pitch of the night. Abel was eventually charged with one run in five and two-thirds innings on just two hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

Hendrick had his first two-homer game of the season, giving him 13 home runs on the year. Ibarra's homer was his 14th of the year. The back-to-back homers in the sixth marked just the second time this season, and the first time since April, that consecutive Dayton batters hit home runs.

The game marked the second time this season that the Dragons won in a manner that had not been matched in at least 16 years. On July 25, also at Dow Diamond in Midland, Dayton's Ruben Ibarra hit a ninth inning three-run home run while trailing 2-0 to give the Dragons the lead and win. And on Tuesday, Jorge's homer also came while trailing in the ninth and gave the team the lead and eventual win. The Dragons had not enjoyed another instance on the road since at least 2007 in which they hit a home run while trailing in the ninth inning to take the lead in an eventual victory.

Up Next: The Dragons (28-27, 61-60) battle Great Lakes (26-29, 71-49) in the second game of the six-game series on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. Chris McElvain (1-1, 4.79) is scheduled to start for Dayton.

The Dragons will open their final homestand of the regular season on Tuesday, September 5 at 7:05 p.m. against the Fort Wayne TinCaps at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District. The six-game home series with Fort Wayne will continue through Sunday, September 10. For ticket information, go to daytondragons.com/tickets or call (937) 228-2287.

On the Air: All Dragons home and road games are broadcast on radio on FOX Sports 980 AM WONE. Games can be heard on smart phones, iPads, and other mobile devices via the free Dragons Mobile App, or on a computer at wone.com. Games are also available on HD Radio on 104.7 WTUI HD 2.

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