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MWL1 Dayton Dragons

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August 11, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Tuesday, August 11, 2009 Game # 114 (44)

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

Radio: WING 1410 AM "ESPN Radio"

West Michigan Whitecaps (25-19, 68-46) at Dayton Dragons (22-21, 50-63)

RH Brandon Hamilton (4-3, 6.39) vs. RH Oscar Castro (2-4, 7.08)

Today's Game: The Dayton Dragons (affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds) host the West Michigan Whitecaps (affiliate of the Detroit Tigers) in the first game of a four-game series. Season Series: West Michigan 8, Dayton 4 (At Dayton: West Michigan 5, Dayton 3).

Dayton in the Last Series (at Lansing): 4-0 (Team Batting Average: .327; Team ERA: 3.15).

Yesterday: Dayton scored four runs in the top of the 13th inning to break a 2-2 tie as they defeated Lansing 6-2 and completed a sweep of the four-game series. Mike Konstanty drove in the tie-breaking run with a two-out single in the 13th, opening the door to a big inning that included four straight two-out, run-scoring hits. Konstanty also delivered a two-run double in the fourth that tied the game at 2-2 and provided the last runs of the game prior to the 13th. Dragons relievers combined to pitch eight innings, allowing just one hit and no runs. Lansing did not have a hit in innings six through 12. Justin Walker fired five no-hit innings for the Dragons. Donnie Joseph threw two hitless innings and earned the win.

Today's Starting Pitcher: Oscar Castro makes his 25th Midwest League appearance and 16th start tonight. In his last start Thursday vs. Great Lakes, he suffered the loss (5.0 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO). Over Castro's last 11 games covering 38.2 innings, he has posted a 8.84 ERA, allowing 40 runs. He began this season in the Dragons starting rotation before moving to the bullpen on May 15th. Castro has filled the role of spot starter since moving to the 'pen. He currently is in the spot vacated by Josh Ravin when Ravin went on the disabled list on June 27. Castro is a 20-year-old native of Mexico. He was signed as a free agent by the Reds in December of 2005 at the age of 16. Castro spent the 2008 season at Billings, going 4-2, 4.14 in 13 starts. He walked only 18 batters in 67 innings.

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

- Miguel Rojas is batting .381 in his last 32 games and is hitting .351 in the second half. Rojas led the MWL in July batting with a .385 average.

- Byron Wiley has reached base with a hit or walk in 28 straight games and 40 of his last 41. He is batting .337 with 13 doubles, two triples, nine HR, and 41 RBI in his last 44 games since June 14, raising his batting average from .211 to .279.

- Alex Oliveras is batting .425 (17 for 40) over his last nine games with 2 HR, 7 RBI, and 7 R.

- Carlos Mendez is batting .391 over his last 22 games.

- Cody Puckett is batting .341 over his last nine games.

- Kevyn Feiner is 8 for 17 over his last three games with five doubles and six RBI.

- Humberto Sosa has hit in four straight games, going 8 for 15, .533, with 1 HR and 5 RBI.

Team Notes

- The Dragons completed their first four-game sweep of the season last night at Lansing.

- The Dragons have won four straight games and six of the last seven. They are 15-7 over their last 22 games. They have been leading or tied in the ninth inning in 20 of the 22 games.

- If the Dragons win tonight, they will go two games over the .500 mark for the first time in a half this season.

- After 43 of 69 games in the second half, the Dragons are one game ahead of South Bend for the wildcard slot in the 2nd half playoff race.

- Despite an overall record of 50-63, the Dragons are 41-38 since May 14th. They started the season by going 9-25. They are 49-51 since starting the season 1-12.

Team Batting Notes

- The Dragons are batting .287 in the second half (43 games) after batting .250 in the first half (70 games).

- During the Dragons 15-7 stretch, they are batting .299 as a team and averaging 5.9 runs per game.

- After 10 games in August, the Dragons are first in the league in batting for the month at .317. Alex Oliveras is batting .425 to lead the team.

Team Pitching Notes

- During the Dragons 15-7 stretch, the team ERA is 3.38.

- Over the last 22 games, Dayton starting pitchers have posted a 3.53 ERA. They have allowed three earned runs or less in 20 of the 22.

- The Dragons second half team ERA is 4.33. The first half ERA was 4.50.

- Dayton Starting Pitchers: Date Range W-L, ERA Team Record

Opening Night-May 15: 4-14, 5.87 9-25

May 16-June 12: 10-6, 2.75 15-12

June 12-July 17: 8-13, 5.66 11-19

July 18-present: 8-1, 3.53 15-7

Upcoming Probable Pitchers (All game times are Dayton time)

Wednesday (7:00 p.m.): Dayton RH Mark Serrano (1-0, 1.59) vs. West Michigan LH Adam Wilk (1-1, 1.50)

Thursday (7:00 p.m.): Dayton RH J.C. Sulbaran (3-2, 4.78) vs. West Michigan RH Luke Putkonen (6-8, 3.66)

Friday (7:00 p.m.): Dayton LH Shea Snowden (1-0, 7.00) vs. West Michigan RH Brayan Villarreal (4-3, 1.82)

Check out the Dayton Dragons Statistics



Midwest League Stories from August 11, 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.

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