MWL1 Lansing Lugnuts

Dragons blow 6-0 lead, recover to sweep Lugs

Published on July 31, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release


LANSING, Mich. - After losing a six-run lead, the Dayton Dragons (19-20, 55-52) broke a late tie to defeat the Lansing Lugnuts (18-21, 50-57), 8-6, and finish a three-game sweep at Cooley Law School Stadium on Thursday night.

The Lugnuts erased a 6-0 deficit with six runs in the fifth inning, but Dayton third baseman Tanner Rahier hit a one-out triple in the top of the ninth and scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch by Lansing reliever Francisco Gracesqui (Loss, 1-1).

Later in the inning, the Dragons added an insurance run on an RBI single by right fielder Gabriel Rosa.

Dayton reliever Joel Bender (Win, 6-2) earned his third win of the season against Lansing, pitching three perfect innings with four strikeouts.

The six-run rally in the fifth inning was the largest of the season for the Lugnuts. Right fielder Derrick Loveless plated the first run with a fielder's choice groundout, and second baseman Jason Leblebijian followed with an RBI single.

Third baseman Mitch Nay drove a two-run single to cut the deficit to 6-4 and chase Dayton starting pitcher Jackson Stephens from the game.

Shortstop Dawel Lugo brought in a run while reaching on an error against Dayton second baseman Ronald Bueno, and a wild pitch by reliever Radhames Quezada brought Matt Dean in from third to tie the game at 6-6.

After the fifth, the Lugnuts were held hitless until Loveless led off the ninth inning with a triple, bringing the potential tying run to the plate, but Dayton closer Alejandro Chacin (Save, 14) sat down the next three Lugnuts in order to finish the sweep for the Dragons.

Dayton took a 2-0 lead in the first inning against Lansing starting pitcher Jeremy Gabryszwski with RBI singles by Phillip Ervin and Jon Matthews.

Gabryszwski was replaced by Matt Dermody to start the second inning, who surrendered three more runs in the frame to give Dayton a 5-0 lead. An RBI double by Ramirez in the fourth extended the lead to 6-0.

Lansing pitchers combined to issue a season-high 11 walks to the Dragons, but stranded 12 base runners as Dayton hit just 6-for-20 with runners in scoring position.

The fifth inning marked the fourth time the Lugnuts have scored six runs in one frame, with three of those rallies occurring against Dayton.

The Lugnuts begin a six-day road trip on Friday night with the opener of a three-game series against the Great Lakes Loons. Right-hander Starlyn Suriel (0-0, 1.50) makes his second start as a member of the Lugnuts, with righty Zach Bird (4-12, 4.10) pitching for Great Lakes.

The Lugnuts return to Cooley Law School Stadium on a Labatt Thirsty Thursday, August 7th, featuring $2 beers, $2 sodas and craft beer specials. Tickets are available for purchase via the stadium box office, telephone at 517-485-4500 and online at lansinglugnuts.com . To sign up for Lugnuts Alerts, text LUGNUTS to 80373.

Check out the Lansing Lugnuts Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from July 31, 2014


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