MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons Hit Four Home Runs, Rally Past Rattlers

Published on August 1, 2007 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, OH - For the second consecutive night, offense was at a premium early as both the Dayton Dragons and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers had a difficult time scoring runs. Dayton starter Alexander Smit (WP, 1-2) and Wisconsin starter Anthony Varvaro (LP, 4-9) performed better than their earned run averages heading into the game. The Dragons turned it on late, using four home runs to post the 8-1 victory in front of 8,721 fans at Fifth Third Field.

The Dragons got on the board in the bottom half of the third inning as Justin Turner picked up his 10th home run of the season over the wall in right center. Turner's shot off Varvaro looked like a gap extra base hit but the ball kept carrying in the breeze and landed in the lawn section about 395 feet from home plate, giving Dayton a 1-0 lead.

Turner was involved in the second run scoring inning for the Dragons as well as Dayton added another run in the fifth to move in front 2-0. Zack Cozart ripped a one out double into the left field corner and was in scoring position for Turner when he came up with two out. The second baseman picked up his second hit of the night, an infield hit to deep short. The single did not score Cozart, who advanced to third on the play but the throwing error by Juan Diaz did, as his throw short hopped and scooted past Reed Eastley at first base.

Smit continued to deal for the Dragons as the southpaw turned in his longest outing in a Dayton uniform. The lefty tossed 6.2 innings on the night, allowing five hits and no runs. He struck out four and walked one in picking up his first win since getting claimed by the Reds off waivers from the Minnesota Twins.

Logan Parker continued to punish Midwest League pitching as the first baseman extended his hitting streak to five games. Parker singled in the fourth inning and added to the Dragons lead with a solo homer, his seventh, in the bottom of the sixth. The blast made it 3-0 and after a one out single by Jason Louwsma in the fifth, Varvaro's night was finished. Eddy Rodriguez added a final run to the tally of Varvaro with a RBI double into the left field corner off new pitcher Justin Souza (ND). The two base hit scored Louwsma, made it 4-0 Dragons and closed the line on the Wisconsin starter.

The game of long ball continued for the Dragons in the seventh, when Juan Francisco blasted his 16th of the season. Francisco took it out of the park down the right field line, landing the baseball on First Street. The shot by the Dragons third baseman gave Dayton a 5-0 lead. Zack Cozart got into the act in the eighth, taking Drew Fiorenza out of the park to left for the 8-0 lead. The three run blast was the first professional home run for Cozart. Marcos Mateo (ND) made the lead stand up, allowing just one run over the final 2.1 innings.

Dayton and Wisconsin wrap up the four game series Thursday night at Fifth Third Field with a 7 PM first pitch. The Dragons will give the starting nod to LHP Jamie Arneson (1-2, 3.82 ERA), while the Timber Rattlers counter with RHP Ricky Orta (3-4, 5.65 ERA). 1410 ESPN Radio WING AM will carry the game live beginning with the Dragons Pre Game Show at 6:30 PM. All Dragons games are also streamed live on the internet via All In Broadcasting at www.daytondragons.com.

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Midwest League Stories from August 1, 2007


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