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MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons drop close one to West Michigan

June 11, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, OH - The West Michigan Whitecaps (38-23) took advantage of four Dayton Dragons (29-35) miscues in picking up a 4-3 victory on Sunday afternoon. West Michigan scored an unearned run in the top of the eighth inning to take the lead and held on for the victory in front of a season-high 8,999 fans at Fifth Third Field.

The Whitecaps scored first off Dragons starter Travis Wood (ND) in the first inning. Will Rhymes led off the game by drawing a walk, and eventually came around to score the first run of the game on an RBI double from Cameron Maybin. The RBI for Maybin was his sixth against the Dragons over the first two games of the series, and West Michigan held an early 1-0 lead.

The Whitecaps added to the lead in the third inning without getting a base hit. Cory Middleton led off the inning with a walk, and was sacrificed to second by Rhymes. Mike Hernandez grounded out to first for the second out of the inning, with Middleton advancing to third. That brought Maybin back to the plate, but Wood was ready. He fooled the Whitecaps slugger for a swinging strikeout, but the pitch was down in the dirt and got away from Dragons' catcher Craig Tatum. The wild pitch allowed Maybin to reach first, and Middleton came in to score the second run of the game for a 2-0 advantage.

Dayton started the comeback in the bottom of the third off Whitecaps starter Burke Badenhop (ND). With two outs in the inning, Mike Griffin singled and stole second base. Jay Bruce followed with an RBI single to cut the lead in half at 2-1. Bobby Mosby followed with a single of his own, putting runners at the corners. After a walk to Eric Eymann loaded the bases, Craig Tatum ripped a line drive to right field, but Jeramy Laster tracked it down for the third out of the inning.

The Dragons knotted the score at 2-2 in the fourth. J.D. Reininger drew a two out walk, followed by a Josh Holden single that put runners on first and third. Mike DeJesus went opposite field with a line drive base hit to left, scoring Reininger, and tying the game at two apiece. A two-out walk to Bruce loaded the bases, but again Badenhop got out of the inning without further damage.

The fifth inning saw each team score a single run. Middleton led off the top of the inning with a single, and scored on an RBI single from Hernandez to give West Michigan the 3-2 edge. Dayton answered in the bottom of the inning when Craig Tatum connected on his third home run of the season. The solo shot to left evened the game at 3-3.

It would stay that way until the top of the eighth. Justin Mallett (ND) pitched 2.0 scoreless innings of relief in the sixth and seventh, but was lifted in favor of Bo Lanier (LP, 2-5) for the eighth. Maybin greeted the new Dragons pitcher with a single, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Dusty Ryan, who was safe at first when Bobby Mosby couldn't handle the throw resulting in an error. Justin Justice followed with a single to left, scoring Maybin and putting West Michigan back on top 4-3. The run was charged as unearned since Lanier settled down to get the last three batters out, but the damage was done.

Josh Rainwater (WP, 2-1) pitched 2.0 innings in relief, while Anthony Claggett (ND) and Orlando Perdomo (S, 15) each pitched one to close out the game for the Whitecaps.

The Dragons continue the four game series against the West Michigan Whitecaps on Monday night at Fifth Third Field with a 7 p.m. first pitch. RHP Carlos Fisher (5-3, 3.24 ERA) will get the start for Dayton, while the Whitecaps counter with LHP Luke French (5-3, 3.68 ERA). 1410 ESPN Radio WING AM will carry the game live beginning with the Dragons pre game show at 6:30 PM. All Dragons games in 2006 can also be heard live on the internet at www.daytondragons.com.

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