MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Dragons Complete Sweep

August 17, 2013 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


DAYTON, OH - The Dayton Dragons completed a three-game sweep of the Great Lakes Loons Friday night in an 8-3 win at Fifth Third Field.

For the Loons, it's the first time in the second half they've been swept, and the first time all half they've lost more than two consecutively. And it couldn't have come at a worse time. With just 16 games remaining in the season, the Loons have lost their lead in the playoff standings. Bowling Green completed a sweep of its own in Fort Wayne and is now a half-game ahead of the Loons in the standings. The Loons' lead over Dayton has been cut to 1 1/2 games for the final playoff spot.

The Dragons capitalized on several miscues early in the game. Starter Zachary Bird was ruled to have missed a tag on a disputed infield bunt hit by Beau Amaral, and the Loons two left-side infielders committed one error each in the bottom of the first inning, gifting the Dragons six outs in the top of the first inning leading to two unearned runs in the frame.

Dayton extended its lead to 5-0 with three in the third. Bird walked three of the first four batters in the inning and all three scored - two on a single by Tanner Rahier and one on a sac fly by Zach Vincej.

Jose Capellan drove in the first run for the Loons in the fifth with an RBI double, and the Loons pulled to within three runs in the sixth on an RBI ground out by Tyler Ogle.

But the Loons could not get closer. Daniel Pigott's two-run single and Tanner Rahier one-run hit extended the Dragons' advantage in the sixth.

Aaron Miller drove in the Loons' final run in the eighth on a single to left.

Miller and Jeremy Rathjen recorded two hits each for the Loons. Bird (1-4) took the loss, charged with two earned runs over three innings. Luis Meza worked scoreless fourth and fifth innings. Thomas Taylor was charged with three runs in 1/3 inning, with all three runs inherited by Crayton Bare ended up scoring in the sixth. Bare (1 2/3 IP) and Owen Jones (1 IP) were not charged with any runs.

Lefty Amir Garrett (1-2) notched his first Dayton win with 5 2/3 solid innings, allowing two runs. Jackson Stephens recorded the final 10 outs for a lengthy save.

The Loons (31-22 second half, 58-65 overall) return to Dow Diamond to begin a seven-game homestand beginning Saturday night with the first game of four against the Fort Wayne TinCaps (19-34, 62-60) at 7:05pm. The game features post-game fireworks, powered by Dow Corning. Seventeen-year-old lefty Julio Urias (2-0, 3.05 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Loons against right-hander Walker Weickel (3-6, 5.74). Tickets are available at Loons.com or by calling 989-837-BALL.

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Midwest League Stories from August 17, 2013


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