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MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons lead early, rally late to beat South Bend, 6-4

July 13, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


South Bend, IN - The last time Dayton Dragons (10-11, 45-46) right hander Zach Ward (ND) faced the South Bend Silver Hawks (16-5, 49-38) he tossed 8.0 innings of shutout baseball but took a no decision when the Dragons could not push a run across home plate. Entering his start on Thursday night, Ward had thrown 14.0 innings of shutout baseball, over two games, against the Silver Hawks and had held South Bend to a .093 batting average against in those three starts. Ward did not receive a decision but the Dragons picked up a pair of runs in the top of the ninth inning to snap a three game losing streak dumping the Silver Hawks 6-4 at Coveleski Stadium.

The Dragons put together a pair of single run innings off South Bend starter Anthony Cupps (ND). Szymanski picked up the first of his two RBI on the night in the top of the fourth inning. Jay Bruce led the inning off with a walk and stole second base to move into scoring position. Szymanski delivered his second hit of the night scoring Bruce for second and the Dragons led 1-0. Szymanski's SAC fly to left field in the top half of the sixth put the Dragons up 2-0. The fly ball to left plated Mike Griffin who led off the inning with a double and moved to third on a wild pitch.

South Bend finally got to Ward in the bottom of the sixth inning scoring for the first time on the Dragons right hander in 19.1 innings on the season. Pedro Ciriaco led off the inning with a triple and scored on a Ward wild pitch to cut into the Dayton lead and make the score 2-1 Dragons through six.

Dayton looked as if they had put the game away in the top half of the eighth inning picking up two runs on a two out two RBI single by Adam Rosales to push the lead up to 4-1. The four runs scored in a game for Ward was the most by the Dragons in three games the right hander had started against the Silver Hawks all season.

Once again Ward watched a potential win turned into a no decision, as South Bend picked up three in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the game at 4-4. Russell Haltiwanger (ND), who had struck out the side in the seventh inning, had Ciriaco reach second base on a wild throw on a grounder to third by Eric Eymann. Haltiwanger would uncork a wild pitch advancing Ciriaco to third during the at bat to Justin Upton, who eventually walked to put runners on the corners with one down. Haltiwanger was pulled in favor of Bo Lanier (WP, 3-6), who gave up an RBI single to Will Crouch and a RBI SAC fly to Bryan Byrne that tied the game up.

Dayton would come away with the win as the club picked up a pair of runs in the top of the ninth inning to take a 6-4 lead. Eymann led off the inning with a double into the left field corner off Enmanuel Duran (LP, 0-2), who took over with two outs in the eighth for Cupps and advanced to third on a Josh Holden bunt single. Mike DeJesus ripped a RBI double over Byrne's head at first scoring Eymann and the Dragons led 5-4. Holden, who moved to third on the DeJesus double, would score on a wild pitch to give the Dragons a two run advantage.

Lanier pitched a one, two, three ninth inning to pick up his third win of the season as the Dragons snapped a three game losing streak and remained in third place, one game ahead of the Fort Wayne Wizards for the second Eastern Division playoff spot in the second half.

Dayton wraps up the three game series at South Bend on Friday night. 1410 ESPN Radio WING AM will carry all the action live beginning with the Dragons Pre Game Show at 6:30 PM; the first pitch from Coveleski Stadium is scheduled for 7:00 PM. RHP Carlos Fisher (7-4, 3.17 ERA) will make the start for Dayton, while the Silver Hawks counter with RHP Kyle Wright (4-2, 3.92 ERA). 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 July 13, 2006


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