MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons Gameday For Monday, May 3

Published on May 3, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Monday, May 3, 2010 Game # 24

Fifth Third Field * Dayton, Ohio * 7:00 p.m.

Radio: 1410 ESPN Radio WING-AM

Bowling Green Hot Rods (5-18) at Dayton Dragons (12-11)

RH Wilking Rodriguez (1-1, 2.74) vs. LH Justin Walker (0-2, 6.16) or RH Jacob Johnson (0-2, 6.38)

Today's Game: The Dragons (affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds) host the Hot Rods (affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays) in the wrap-up to what will be a three-game series. The Dragons are 3-2 on their current six-game home stand. Bowling Green has lost 13 of their last 15 games.

Season Series: Dayton 4, Bowling Green 1.

Yesterday: Dayton and Bowling Green were rained-out. The game has been rescheduled as part of a day-night doubleheader at noon on Saturday, May 22nd.

Today's Possible Starting Pitcher: Justin Walker would make his second spot start in place of J.C. Sulbaran, who is on the disabled list with a blister problem on his pitching hand. In his last start on Tuesday vs. Lake County, Walker pitched extremely well over the first five innings, allowing only one run and allowing only two runners past first base. But Walker was touched for a three-run home run in the sixth and left the game trailing (5.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO). Walker has generally pitched well this season but has been victimized by the big inning. He allowed four innings of three runs or more and 13 of the 15 runs he has allowed on the year have come in 3.2 of his 19 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.

Today's Possible Starting Pitcher: Jacob Johnson would make his fifth start of the season tonight. He started Wednesday night against Lake County and suffered the loss (5 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO). Johnson is a 19-year-old native of Lake Worth, Florida. He was drafted by the Reds in the 11th round in 2009 out of Trinity Christian Academy. Johnson finished fifth in the 2009 Florida Mr. Baseball voting. He was named the Florida Class 1A Co-Player of the Year and a 1st Team All-State selection in '09. Johnson had committed to Wake Forest before signing with Reds. He enjoyed a good start to his professional career in 2009. Over his first seven professional outings including five starts, he allowed just three earned runs in 26 innings (1.04 ERA) with the GCL Reds. He finished the season with a 2.83 ERA and a 2-3 record.

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

Henry Rodriguez leads all Single-A players (60 teams) in plate appearance/strikeout ratio with four strikeouts in 98 plate appearances.

Mark Fleury is batting .333 over his last 10 games and hit his first home run of the year Saturday night.

Chris Richburg is batting .313 with three home runs including a grand slam home run, five doubles, and 15 RBI over his last 17 games.

Frank Pfister is batting .314 over his last 14 games.

Donnie Joseph has allowed just one run in 10 relief appearances covering 11.1 innings. He has struck out 18 and ranks fourth among all Midwest League relievers in strikeouts per nine innings at 14.29. Joseph is third in the league among relievers in fewest baserunners/9 innings at 5.56.

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 need a win tonight to complete their second series sweep of the season. They swept Lansing in the first three games of 2010.

The Dragons are 7-0 at home when they score at least four runs.

The Dragons are 9-5 at home; 3-6 on the road. They are batting .251 at home; .239 on the road. The team ERA is 3.05 at home; 5.08 on the road. Dragons opponents are batting .250 in Dayton; .301 on the road. Dragons pitchers have a 38-115 walk-strikeout ratio at home; 32-57 on the road.

The Dragons are 5-1 in one-run games at home; 0-3 in one-run games on the road. Dayton won seven one-run home games in all of 2009.

Five of the 23 Dragons games have gone to extra innings. Dayton is 3-0 in home extra inning games. Dayton played five extra inning games at home in all of 2009, winning three.

Nine of the Dragons 23 games have been decided by one run, three by two runs, and six by three runs. Only four games have been decided by more than three runs (tied with Great Lakes for fewest in the league). Six games have been tied going into the ninth inning (most in the league).

The Dragons have held the lead in 19 of their 23 games this season. They have come from behind to win in seven of their 12 victories.

The Dragons have four "walk-off" wins this season, matching their total for all of 2009.

The Dragons roster includes 13 players who have previously played for the club. Catcher Kevin Coddington spent the entire 2009 season with the Dragons. Pitchers Ezequiel Infante, Mark James, Donnie Joseph, Junior Martinez, Josh Ravin, Justin Walker, and Chase Ware; catcher Jordan Wideman; infielders Kevyn Feiner, and Frank Pfister; and outfielders Andrew Means and Alex Oliveras all spent part of 2009 with the Dragons. Pitcher J.C. Sulbaran, currently on the disabled list, spent part of 2009 with the Dragons. Coddington, Wideman, Pfister, and Ravin were all on the Dragons '09 opening night roster.

Upcoming Probable Pitchers (All game times are Dayton time)

Tuesday (6:30 p.m.): Dayton RH Jacob Johnson (0-2, 6.38) or RH Pedro Villarreal (0-2, 4.33) at Lake County RH Trey Haley (1-0, 4.68)

Wednesday (6:30 p.m.): Dayton RH J.C. Sulbaran (2-0, 3.94) at Lake County RH Joe Gardner (1-0, 3.68)

Thursday (6:30 p.m.): Dayton RH Josh Ravin (1-1, 1.82) at Lake County RH Danny Salazar (0-1, 6.62)

Check out the Dayton Dragons Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from May 3, 2010


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