MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons Fall in Fort Wayne, 8-7

Published on May 4, 2009 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Fort Wayne, Ind.-The Fort Wayne TinCaps battled back from a 7-1 deficit to defeat the Dayton Dragons 8-7 on Monday night, completing a three-game sweep of the series. The Dragons fell to 6-18 on the season as they lost to the TinCaps for the seventh time in seven meetings.

Dayton finished their 10-game road trip with a 4-6 record.

The Dragons built a 7-1 lead over the first four and one-half innings, only to see the TinCaps score two in the fifth, two in the sixth, and three in the seventh to pull out the win.

The Dragons took advantage of some wildness by Fort Wayne starting pitcher Rob Musgrave in the third inning to score five runs, their biggest inning of the 2009 season. Miguel Rojas got the rally started with a one-out single to right and scored on Cody Puckett's double to the left field corner to make it 1-0. Musgrave then walked the next three hitters, forcing in Puckett to make it 2-0. After a wild pitch brought in another run, Jordan Wideman followed with a line drive single to left to score two more and make it 5-0.

Fort Wayne's Matt Clark drilled a solo home run in the fourth to make it 5-1, but the Dragons answered with two runs in the fifth, keyed by a pair of doubles by Byron Wiley and Kyle Day, to take a 7-1 lead.

The TinCaps battled back with two unearned runs in the fifth to pull back to within four at 7-3. They scored twice against Dragons starter Curtis Partch in the sixth to make it 7-5.

In the seventh, Dragons reliever Mace Thurman issued back-to-back walks to start the inning and was replaced by Scott Gaffney. Gaffney walked Clark to load the bases with no outs. James Darnell followed with a two-run single to tie the game. One batter later, Robert Lara singled to bring in the tie-breaking run and give Fort Wayne an 8-7 lead.

The Dragons did not have a base hit over the final four innings. In the ninth, pinch hitter Tony Brown walked to start the inning but was stranded at first base as Fort Wayne closer Brad Brach notched his ninth save. Brach has allowed only one hit and no runs in 11 innings this season.

Gaffney (1-1) suffered the loss.

Dayton finished with seven hits. Wideman drove in three runs to lead the way.

The Dragons return home to Fifth Third Field to play 10 games in 11 days starting Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. against the Clinton Lumber Kings. Oscar Castro (1-1, 5.21) will start for Dayton against Clinton's Adam Harben (1-0, 1.06). The Dragons next home game is Tuesday, May 5th against the Clinton Lumber Kings at Fifth Third Field.

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