MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons Fall 3-2, Lose No Ground in Playoff Chase

August 17, 2013 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, Ohio-Three West Michigan pitchers combined to allow only five hits as the Whitecaps edged the injury-depleted Dayton Dragons on Saturday night at Fifth Third Field. The Dragons loss snapped their three-game winning streak as they fell to 30-25 in the second half.

By the middle of the second inning, the Dragons were playing without two all-stars. Dragons starting pitcher Drew Cisco left the game after tossing one scoreless inning due to back spasms. Left fielder Jesse Winker made an outstanding leaping catch to save two runs in the top of the second, but suffered a sprained foot on the play and left the game. Winker landed awkwardly with the front half of his foot compressed against the left field fence and the back of his foot coming down on the warning track. He will have an x-ray but the Dragons are hoping the injury is not serious.

The Dragons did not lose any ground to the two teams ahead of them in the playoff race. Both Bowling Green and Great Lakes lost, so the Dragons remain one and one-half games out of the wildcard slot and two games out of first place.

West Michigan scored two runs in the second inning against Dragons reliever Werleen Taveras (1-2) and then added one more in the fifth to take a 3-0 lead.

The Dragons battled back, scoring in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Brandon Dailey after a double by Daniel Pigott and an error. They added another run in the eighth to make it 3-2 when Seth Mejias-Brean lined a single to center field with two outs to bring in Zach Vincej from second. The hit moved the tying run to second base but West Michigan's star closer, Corey Knebel, got Pigott to fly out to right to end the threat. Knebel struck out the side in order in the ninth to earn the save.

Taveras was charged with the loss. He worked three innings and allowed five hits and two runs with two walks and two strikeouts. Tony Amezcua allowed one run in three innings on two hits with no walks and two strikeouts. Joel Bender closed out the night with two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit.

Mejias-Brean went 2 for 4 with an RBI to lead the Dragons offense.

The Dragons host the Whitecaps on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Fifth Third Field. Sal Romano (6-9, 4.92) will start for Dayton against West Michigan's Montreal Robertson (2-6, 6.75). The series will continue Monday and Tuesday nights at 7:00 p.m. All Dragons games can be heard on WONE Radio (980 AM) and via the internet at daytondragons.com and wone.com.

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Midwest League Stories from August 17, 2013


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