MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons GameDay

Published on June 5, 2009 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Today's Game: The Dragons (affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds) host the Silver Hawks (affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks) in the finale of a four-game series. This is also the last game of the Dragons 10-game home stand.

Season Series: Dayton 4, South Bend 3.

Dayton on the Current Home Stand: 4-5

Last Game: Josh Ravin fired six strong innings and the Dragons collected 11 hits in a 6-3 victory over South Bend on Thursday. It was Dayton's second straight victory. Ravin allowed only an unearned run on three hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Dave Sappelt reached base four times and scored two runs. Kyle Day, Humberto Sosa, and Andrew Means joined Sappelt with two hits.

Today's Starting Pitcher: Curtis Partch returns to the Dragons for the start tonight after making his last start with the Double-A Carolina Mudcats on Saturday when he picked up a victory (5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO). Curtis makes his 10th Midwest League start tonight. His earned a win in his last start May 25th at Burlington (5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO). Partch went 5-11, 5.00 with the Dragons in 2008 when he spent the entire season and post-season on the Dayton active roster. Partch is a native of Merced, California and played at Merced Junior College. He was drafted by the Reds in the 26th round in 2007. Partch finished strong in 2008, posting a 2.78 ERA over his final 10 games (four starts) over the last six weeks of the season. Partch was the Reds Pitcher of the Year in their 2008 Florida Instructional League program.

Skipper: Todd Benzinger makes his professional baseball managerial debut in 2009. 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. He has enjoyed a highly-successful career coaching girls' high school basketball since 1999.

Individual Notes

- Second baseman Cody Puckett is batting .393 with 13 doubles, one triple, and six home runs in his last 22 games, raising his batting average from .230 to .302. His slugging percentage over those 22 games is .791.

- Outfielder Dave Sappelt is batting .343 over his last 17 games. He has raised his batting average from .252 to .282.

- Starting pitcher Matt Fairel has not allowed a run over his last three starts covering 18 innings.

- Relief pitcher Aguido Gonzalez has allowed just two runs over his last 15 games covering 19.1 innings.

- Dragons among the league leaders include Cody Puckett (tied for third in home runs, 10; tied for fifth in hits, 61; tied for second in extra base hits, 29; tied for third in doubles, 18; third in slugging percentage, .550; Matt Fairel (third in ERA, 2.20; third in strikeouts, 62; second in innings pitched, 61.1).

Team Notes

- The Dragons have won two straight games and they are 12-7 over their last 19 games.

- The Dragons have posted a 2.73 ERA as a team in their last 19 games.

- The Dragons are batting .207 as a team over the last six games after batting .297 over the previous 11 games.

- The Dragons are 20-20 over their last 40 games after starting the season 1-12.

- Ten of the Dragons' 32 losses have come by one run. The Dragons are 5-10 in one-run games.

Check out the Dayton Dragons Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Midwest League Stories from June 5, 2009


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.

OurSports Central