MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons Drop 5-1 Decision to Kernels

Published on May 14, 2003 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


The Dayton Dragons (19-21) were held to just four hits and one run as the Cedar Rapids Kernels (20-19) took game two of the four game series from Dayton 5-1 in front of 8,347 fans at Fifth Third Field Wednesday night.

Kernels starter Rafael Rodriguez (W, 3-2) was outstanding tossing 6.0 innings of two hit baseball, not allowing a run and striking out three Dragons. Rodriguez was a bit wild on the night walking four, but pitched himself out of tough spots inning after inning. The Dragons stranded single base runners in all six innings Rodriguez pitched.

Dragons starting pitcher Juan Frias (L, 3-3) was touched up for three runs in 5.0 innings allowing eight base hits, walking three and striking out five. The biggest blow of the ballgame came off of the bat of shortstop Erick Aybar, who cracked a two run homerun in the top of the third inning to give the Kernels a 2-0 lead. Aybar chased home Alberto Callaspo, who doubled a batter earlier.

Cedar Rapids took a 3-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning. Matt Brown started the inning with a lead off free pass, was sacrificed to second and scored on a Callaspo single. Callaspo was 4-5 on the night knocking in a run and scoring another.

Brad Correll doubled off of Kernel reliever Ozzie Lugo to lead off the seventh inning and scored on a RBI double from Joey Votto to pick up the only Dragon run of the evening. Dayton would trail 3-1 after seven innings, and get no closer as the Kernels pushed two runs across the plate in the ninth inning to finish off Dayton 5-1.

Matt McWilliams squirmed out of trouble in the sixth and seventh innings, but was charged with the two runs in the ninth inning, as he did not record an out in the final frame. Brown and B.J. Weed scored making the score 5-1 . Alexander Farfan recorded the final three outs of the ninth inning.

Dayton went 1-2-3 in the bottom half of the ninth, as Rich Thompson retired the final three hitters of the game.

The Dragons and Kernels continue the four game series Thursday night at Fifth Third Field. 1410 ESPN Radio WING AM will carry the game live with the pre game show beginning at 6:30 pm. RHP Josh Thigpen will get the start for the Dragons while Cedar Rapids will start LHP Micah Posey.

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Midwest League Stories from May 14, 2003


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