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MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons Gameday For Wednesday, April 28

April 28, 2010 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dragons GameDay

Wednesday, April 28, 2010 Game # 20

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

Radio: 1410 ESPN Radio WING-AM

Lake County Captains (14-5) at Dayton Dragons (10-9)

RH Clayton Cook (0-2, 5.54) vs. RH Jacob Johnson (0-1, 7.42)

Today's Game: The Dragons (affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds) host the Captains (affiliate of the Cleveland Indians) in the second game of a three-game series. This is also game two of a seven-game home stand for the Dragons.

Season Series: Dayton 1, Lake County 0.

Last Night: The Dragons broke a 4-4 tie with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat the Captains 5-4 in the first game of the series. Henry Rodriguez doubled to center field to drive in Alex Oliveras from second base with one out with the winning run. It gave the Dragons their fourth "walk-off" win of 2010, matching their total from all of 2009. The win also snapped a four-game losing streak for Dayton. Oliveras led the offensive attack with three hits including a double and two runs scored. Chase Ware was outstanding in relief to earn the win. He allowed just one base runner in three and one-third innings.

Today's Starting Pitcher: Jacob Johnson makes his fourth start of the season tonight. He started the last game of the last homestand on Thursday against West Michigan and suffered the loss (4.1 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 0 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

* Alex Oliveras has hit safely in five straight games, batting .412.

* Chris Richburg is batting .340 with two home runs including a grand slam home run, five doubles, and 13 RBI over his last 13 games.

* Frank Pfister saw his 10-game hitting streak end last night. Over his last 11 games, he is batting .326 with three doubles and a triple.

* Mark Fleury is batting .400 over his last six games, going 8 for 20.

* Donnie Joseph has allowed just one run in eight relief appearances covering 9.0 scoreless innings. He has struck out 14.

* The Dragons roster includes four players who are ranked among the Reds top 30 prospects by Baseball America. They include shortstop DiDi Gregorius (#15), pitcher Donnie Joseph (#21), pitcher J.C. Sulbaran (#25) and outfielder Byron Wiley (#29).

Team Notes

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

* The Dragons are 7-3 at home; 3-6 on the road. They are batting .264 at home; .239 on the road. The team ERA is 3.15 at home; 5.08 on the road. Dragons opponents are batting .251 in Dayton; .301 on the road. Dragons pitchers have a 25-90 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 19 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 19 games have been decided by one run, two by two runs, and four by three runs. Only four games have been decided by more than three runs. Six games have been tied going into the ninth inning.

* The Dragons have held the lead in 16 of their 19 games this season. They have come from behind to win in seven of their 10 victories.

* The Dragons roster includes 13 players who have previously played for the club. Outfielder Byron Wiley 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. Catcher Kevin Coddington and pitcher J.C. Sulbaran, both currently on the disabled list, spent 2009 with the Dragons. Coddington, Wiley, Wideman, Pfister, and Ravin were all on the Dragons '09 opening night roster.

Upcoming Probable Pitchers (All game times are Dayton time)

Thursday (7:00 p.m.): Dayton RH Josh Ravin (0-1, 1.37) vs. Lake County RH Trey Haley (0-0, 6.00)

Friday (7:05 p.m.): Dayton RH Pedro Villarreal (0-1, 4.71) vs. Bowling Green TBA

Saturday (7:05 p.m.): Dayton RH Brian Pearl (1-1, 4.74) vs. Bowling Green TBA

Sunday (2:00 p.m.): Dayton TBA vs. Bowling Green TBA

Monday (7:00 p.m.): Dayton RH Jacob Johnson vs. Bowling Green TBA

Check out the Dayton Dragons Statistics



Midwest League Stories from April 28, 2010


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