Sports stats



MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons Come Back Once, Second Try Falls Short

April 28, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, OH - The Dayton Dragons (9-13) rallied for one comeback in front of the 8,871 fans at Fifth Third Field, but the second comeback effort came up short, and the Peoria Chiefs (12-10) hand the Dragons their third consecutive defeat by the final score of 8-6. With the victory, the Dragons lose the series three games to one to the Chiefs, and finish with a 4-4 record on the home stand.

Peoria scored four runs in the first three innings off Dragons starter Travis Wood (ND). In the first, Davy Gregg drew a leadoff walk, and came around to score on a two-run home run off the bat of Kevin Collins to give Peoria an early 2-0 lead. Peoria added a run in the second inning when Jonathan Mota's groundout scored Brandon Taylor with one out in the inning. In the third inning, the Chiefs scored a run when Mike Griffin booted a ground ball from Ryan Norwood, and Jesus Valdes scored from third on the play.

The Dragons were hot in the first few innings as well. Griffin led off the Dragons half of the first with a single to extend his hitting streak to nine games. A balk from Peoria starter Todd Blackford (ND) advanced Griffin to second, and he went to third on a wild pitch. Griffin would score the Dragons first run of the game on a sacrifice fly from B.J. Szymanski. It was Szymanski again doing the damage in the third inning as he blasted a pitch to the opposite field with Paul Janish aboard to cut the Peoria lead to 4-3. The Dragons would complete the first comeback attempt in the fifth when Janish connected for his second home run of the season, tying the game at four.

The score would remain tied until the 8th inning. With Wayne Lundgren (LP, 0-1) pitching for the Dragons, Norwood singled to left field with one out. Lundgren hung a breaking pitch to Brandon Taylor who promptly deposited it behind the Dragon's Lair in left field for a two run home run and the 6-4 Peoria lead.

Dayton answered with one run in the bottom of the eighth inning with Bobby Mosby coming around to score on a single from Josh Holden to cut the lead to 6-5. The run was charged to Chiefs reliever Mike Billek (WP, 2-3), but no further damage was done.

With renewed life, Lundgren headed back out to the hill in the ninth. After retiring Mota on a groundout, Gregg singled to left and then stole second. With two down in the inning, Valdes singled to left driving in Gregg from second. Valdes advanced to second on the throw from Holden, and when the throw was off-target, he took third. A wild pitch from Lundgren scored Valdes to give Peoria the 8-5 lead.

The Dragons would try for one more comeback. With two outs in the ninth, reliever Ed Campusano (S, 6) walked Eric Eymann. Eymann advanced to second on fielder's indifference. Mosby ripped a shot off the glove of Taylor at third, scoring Eymann from second, but when Mosby tried to reach second base, the relay throw from Mota to second baseman Robinson Chirinos was in time and ended the game for the Chiefs victory.

The Dragons head out on the road for eight games starting on Saturday night against the Burlington Bees. 1410 ESPN Radio WING AM will carry the game live beginning with the Dragons Magazine at 6:00 PM and the pre game show at 6:30 PM. Saturday's first pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM. RHP Carlos Fisher (2-1, 3.74) will get the start for the Dragons while Burlington counters with RHP David Henninger (1-1, 3.20 ERA). All Dragons games in 2006 can also be heard live on the internet at www.daytondragons.com.

Check out the Dayton Dragons Statistics



Midwest League Stories from April 28, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central