MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons Game Notes

Published on May 20, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Today's Game: The Dragons (affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds) host the Lugnuts (affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays) in the finale of the three-game set. This is game three of the homestand that will feature eight games in seven days for Dayton.

Season Series: Lansing 5, Dayton 3 (Dayton is 3-2 vs. Lansing at Fifth Third Field).

Last Game: Dayton lost to Lansing 9-3 in the second game of the series. The Lugnuts collected 13 hits to win their seventh straight game. Eric Eiland and Brad McElroy each had two hits and two RBI for Lansing. For Dayton, Josh Garton hit a two-run home run while Andrew Means collected three hits.

Today's Starting Pitcher: Justin Walker makes his fifth start of the season tonight after beginning the year in the Dayton bullpen. In his last start on Friday night at Great Lakes, Walker suffered the loss (6.0 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO). Walker has been victimized by the long ball this season, allowing seven home runs to tie for the league lead. He has allowed four three-run homers. He has allowed seven innings of three runs or more and 23 of the 30 runs he has allowed on the year have come in 6.2 of his 37 innings. Walker split 2009 season between Dayton and Billings, going a combined 1-5, 3.65. He worked 56.2 innings, allowing 59 hits with 10 walks and 54 strikeouts. He walked just seven batters in 65 innings of college baseball in 2008 with Lamar University, going 2-2, 4.85 in 19 games (seven starts). He posted a combined record of 18-1 over his junior and senior seasons at Nederland High School in Nederland, Texas.

Skipper: Todd Benzinger is in his second season with the Dragons and in the Reds organization as a manager in 2010. Benzinger enjoyed a nine-year major league playing career from 1987-1995 with the Reds, Red Sox, Royals, Dodgers, and Giants. Todd is a former first baseman who recorded the final putout of the 1990 World Series with the Reds to complete their four-game sweep of the Oakland A's. Benzinger is a native of the Cincinnati area and currently resides in West Chester, Ohio.

Individual Notes

* Shane Carlson is batting .387 with 9 RBI over his last eight games to raise his average from .194 to .284.

* Alex Oliveras is batting .348 with a home run over his last six games.

* Frank Pfister is batting .385 over his last seven games.

* Andrew Means is batting .370 over his last six games.

* Donnie Joseph leads all Midwest League relievers in strikeouts per nine innings. He is tied for the MWL lead in appearances.

* Doug Salinas has allowed no runs on four hits in 10.1 IP over his last six appearances.

* Chase Ware has a 1.23 ERA over his last seven games covering 22 innings.

* The Dragons roster includes three players who are ranked among the Reds top 30 prospects by Baseball America. They include shortstop Didi Gregorius (#15), pitcher Donnie Joseph (#21), and pitcher J.C. Sulbaran (#25).

Team Notes

* The Dragons team ERA over the last nine games is 2.76.

* The Dayton bullpen over the last 9 G: 34.1 IP, 7 R, 3 ER, 0.79 ERA. The bullpen ERA for the year is 2.62.

* The Dragons are 13-7 at home; 5-14 on the road. They are batting .268 at home; .224 on the road. The team ERA is 3.08 at home; 4.21 on the road. Dragons opponents are batting .244 in Dayton; .283 on the road.

* The Dragons are 7-1 in one-run games at home; 1-6 in one-run games on the road. Dayton won seven one-run home games in all of 2009. * The Dragons have played seven extra inning games. They are 3-0 at home; 0-4 on the road.

* The Dragons have five "walk-off" wins this season, one more than they had in all of 2009.

Schedule Note: The Dragons will play a day-night doubleheader on Saturday. Games will start at 12:00 noon and 7:00 p.m. Tickets for the rained-out game on May 2nd will be honored at the noon game on Saturday.

Upcoming Probable Pitchers (All game times are Dayton time)

Friday (7:07 p.m.): Dayton RH Jacob Johnson (0-3, 5.40) vs. Bowling Green RH Wilking Rodriguez (1-3, 3.83)

Saturday (12:00 noon): Dayton TBA vs. Bowling Green LH Kyle Lobstein (1-2, 4.76)

Saturday (7:00 p.m.): Dayton RH Pedro Villarreal (2-2, 3.46) vs. Bowling Green RH Kirby Yates (0-1, 1.42)

Sunday (2:00 p.m.): Dayton RH J.C. Sulbaran (3-2, 4.65) vs. Bowling Green RH Alexander Colome (3-2, 1.97)

Monday (7:00 p.m.): Dayton RH Josh Ravin vs. Bowling Green LH Aaron Dott

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Midwest League Stories from May 20, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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