MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons Drop Close Game in Series Finale

Published on May 22, 2005 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, OH - With a win, the Dayton Dragons (17-25) would wrap up the teams best home stand of the 2005 season with six victories in eight games. A loss will still earn the Dragons a winning record at 5-3, but it would extend the team's current losing streak to three games. For the second time in three days, the Peoria Chiefs (20-23) picked up a single run in the top of the ninth to snap a tie and pick up a win. Sunday's final was a 6-5 Peoria win as the Chiefs scored in the ninth to had Dayton its third straight loss.

Sean Gallagher (ND) was the Midwest League's version of "Mr. Untouchable" heading into his ninth start of the season. In 49.0 previous innings of work in his eight starts, the right hander had allowed just two earned runs. The Dragons changed that in the home half of the second inning taking a 1-0 lead on an infield single from Habelito Hernandez and an RBI triple off the bat of Chris Kroski. Dayton added another pair of runs off Gallagher in the third with an RBI double from Ben Himes and a RBI single by Hernandez. Gallagher lasted 5.0 innings matching his shortest stint of the season. The eight hits allowed were a season high, as were the three earned runs.

The Chiefs trailed 3-0 heading into the top of the fourth and were set down nine in a row by Dayton starter Zac Stott (ND). In the fourth, Peoria got to within a run on a pair of solo home runs by Eric Patterson and Luis Montanez. Patterson's shot led off the inning on the first pitch Stott offered up and the Montanez blast came with two down. In his 4.0 innings of work, Stott allowed three hits and three runs, with four strikeouts and a walk.

Dayton jumped back out in front in the home half of the sixth inning off the Chiefs bullpen. Cody Strait took Chief reliever Walt Nolen (ND) out to deep center field for a solo shot and his second HR of the season giving the Dragons a short lived 4-3 lead.

The Dragons bullpen was unable to hold the lead with a pair of runs scoring in the Peoria seventh to give the visitors a 5-4 lead. Jon George (ND), who took over for Stott two batters into the fifth, was greeted with back-to-back doubles to open the seventh inning. With second and third and none out, Alberto Garcia tied the game at 4-4 with a sac fly to center. George popped Drew Larsen to shallow center for the second out of the inning but was unable to close out the Chiefs, allowing an Oscar Bernard two out RBI single to score the go ahead run.

Dayton battled back and tied the game in the bottom of the eighth inning off Peoria reliever Paul Schappert (WP, 1-0). Himes picked up a one out double to the right field corner and advanced to third on a base hit to center by Jeremiah Piepkorn. Tonys Gutierrez picked up the RBI on a fielder's choice grounder to the first baseman to square things at five aside heading to the ninth.

Peoria picked up the winning run in the ninth off the Dragons pen with a well executed inning of "small ball." Montanez led off the inning with a single to left off the third Dayton pitcher on the afternoon Jared Sanders (LP, 0-3). Josh Arteaga moved Montanez to second with a sac bunt to move the runner to second base. Sanders got Garcia to pop out to Drew Anderson at second base for the second out of the frame. With two down, Sanders faced off against Larsen, with the go ahead run in scoring position. Larsen won the battle with the RBI single to center giving the Chiefs a 6-5 lead.

The Dragons did not have an answer for former University of Dayton pitcher Jerry Blevins (SV, 8). The left hander came in and make quick work of the Miami Valley's team setting them down in order to earn his eighth save of the year.

The Dragons open a four game series with the West Michigan Whitecaps at Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park, Michigan Monday night with a 6:35 PM first pitch. 1410 ESPN Radio carries the game live with the pre game show beginning at 6:00 PM. LHP Camilo Vazquez (1-1, 2.91 ERA) will get the ball for the Dragons while RHP Josh Rainwater gets the starting nod for the Whitecaps.

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Midwest League Stories from May 22, 2005


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