MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons Comeback Falls Short, Wizards Win 3-2

Published on May 18, 2003 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Gabe Ribas (W, 5-2) took care of business on Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Field. The Fort Wayne Wizards (26-17) used a workman like performance from the starting pitcher to jump out to a 3-0 lead and held on in the later innings to snap the Dayton Dragons (22-22) three game winning streak, 3-2, in front of 8,323 at the ball park.

Fort Wayne jumped out in front with three single run innings and evened the four game series at one game apiece. Paul McAnulty drove home two runs, the first in the top half of inning one with a RBI single that plated Kenard Jones with two out and the Wizards led 1-0. Dragons right fielder B.J. Hawes fired a strike to Dragons catcher Steve Booth, in time to get Jones who was at second before the single, but the Dragons backstop was late on the tag and the Wizards had the early lead.

McAnutly was at it again in the third, again off Dayton starter Eddy Valdez (L, 4-2). With the bases loaded, following two singles, a fielder's choice and an intentional walk, the first baseman's SAC fly scored Andres Pagan, who led the inning off with a single and the Wizards led 2-0.

Valdez battled the Wizards all day and pitched his way out of a few early inning spots of trouble, but the visitor's tallied another run in the fifth off the Dragons starter. Brian Burgamy doubled in the fifth and came home on an opposite field triple from L.J. Biernbaum for a 3-0 lead.

Dayton managed only a Booth single in the third off Ribas, who set down 14 in a row until a two out walk to Junior Ruiz in the seventh put the Dragons center fielder on base. Joey Votto smacked a double into right center that scored Ruiz and the Dragons trailed 3-1. Dayton made it a 3-2 game with another run in the eighth, off former Dragons pitcher Bryan Edwards. Ryan Hanigan reached on a lead off pinch-hit single and moved to second on a Hector Mateo ground out. Darwin Soto came on to pitch and gave up a two out RBI double to B.J. Hawes that scored Hanigan and the Dragons got within 3-2.

Dale Thayer (S, 9) picked up his league leading ninth save with a one, two, three ninth and the Dragons comeback fell one run short.

The Dragons and Fort Wayne Wizards continue the four game series at Fifth Third Field Monday night at 7 PM. ESPN Radio 1410 WING AM will carry the game live with the pre game show beginning at 6:30 pm. LHP Camilo Vazquez will make the start for the Dragons while Fort Wayne will counter with RHP David Pauley. Lawn tickets for the remainder of the series are still available. Fans can purchase lawn tickets on line at www.daytondragons.com , by calling the ticket office at (937) 228-2287 or by stopping by the box office at Fifth Third Field.

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Midwest League Stories from May 18, 2003


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