MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons hang on to fourth lead beat Rays in extras, 9-7

August 27, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Battle Creek, MI - The Dayton Dragons (29-31, 64-66) had their backs against the wall on Sunday afternoon against the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays (27-34, 58-71) needing a win in the final game of the four game series to gain the split in the Dragons final trip to C.O. Brown Stadium. It was a game that neither club seemed to want to win, as both the Dragons and Devil Rays blew leads on three different occasions. The Dragons finally pulled out a 9-7 win picking up a pair of runs in the top of the 12th and protecting the advantage in the bottom half of the inning. Dayton picked up the season series win over the Rays winning 14 of 19 games.

Russell Haltiwanger (ND) was looking for his first win in a Dragons uniform in 2006 and was making his sixth appearance against the Devil Rays, his second as a starter. Matt Walker (ND) entered the day with a 5-4 record in 13 games on the season. Three of his four losses on the year have come at Fifth Third Field and against the Dragons.

The Dragons and Rays traded runs in the third inning as each starter gave up a tally. Mike DeJesus picked up a walk to lead off the inning and moved to second base on Mike Griffin's single to left field. With two down, B.J. Szymanski grounded a ball in the hole at first base that Rhyne Hughes fielded but flipped errantly to the pitcher covering the bag, allowing DeJesus to score from third for a 1-0. Matt Devins led off the third by drawing a walk where a Haltiwanger wild pitch would get him home to tie the game at 1-1.

The Rays took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning on a SAC fly from Matt Devins. Garrett Groce led off the inning with a bunt single and moved second when Haltiwanger threw the ball away. Groce stole third base and came home on the Devins fly ball to center, giving the Rays the lead.

Szymanski put the Dragons back on top with a short lived lead in the top half of the sixth inning blasting a two run homer off Walker over the wall in left center field. Szymanski's 16th of the season tied him for the team lead with Jay Bruce.

After SWM scored two in the bottom of the sixth inning of Bo Lanier (ND) Dayton took a three run lead picking up four runs in the top half of the eighth inning off Rays reliever Celso Rondon (ND). Southwest Michigan pitched in three errors as Craig Tatum, Bruce and Hernandez all picked up RBI hits for Dayton to give the visitors another short lived lead, this time at 7-4.

Jose Rojas (ND) had a great pitching performance wasted as he departed after 2.2 innings of no hit, no run relief. The right hander struck out four and walked one on the afternoon and gave way to Damian Ursin to finish off the Rays. Ursin gave up a bloop single to Neil Walton and walked Alex Jamieson to put runners at first and second with none out. J.T. Hall ripped a triple into the gap in right center scoring both runners and getting the Rays to within one at 7-6. After a ground out and another walk Ursin was lifted in favor of Logan Ondrusek (WP, 4-5). Groce got the tying run home on an RBI fielder's choice and the teams were headed for extra innings.

Dayton finally broke through in the top of the 12th inning picking up a pair of runs off Drew Bigda (LP, 1-4) to take its fourth lead of the game. Eymann led off the inning with a single and moved to second base on a wild pitch. After a one out walk to Tatum, DeJesus ripped an RBI single into center field scoring Eymann and Dayton led 8-7. After a Griffin single loaded up the bases, Bruce knocked in his second runs of the game with a sac fly to center extending the lead to 9-7.

Ondrusek came up big for the Dragons as he protected the lead, pitching around a lead off single in the bottom of the 12th to preserve the win and keep the Dragons 3.5 games behind Fort Wayne in the Eastern Division playoff chase.

The Dragons open a five game series at Coveleski Stadium against the South Bend Silver Hawks on Monday night. The series will feature a double header on Tuesday to make a rainout from earlier in the season. 1410 ESPN Radio WING AM will carry all the action live beginning with the Dragons Pre Game Show at 6:30 PM. Monday's first pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM. RHP Daniel Guerrero (4-4, 4.66 ERA) will make the start for Dayton. South Bend has not announced its game one starter. All Dragons games in 2006 can also be heard live on the internet at www.daytondragons.com.

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Midwest League Stories from August 27, 2006


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