MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons Lose Heart Breaker, Win Thriller

Published on August 25, 2006 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Battle Creek, MI - The Dayton Dragons (28-29, 63-64) were hoping for a pair of wins in Friday's double header against the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays and had to settle for a split as the Rays came from behind to shock the Dragons picking up two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning in the first game of the double header by the count of 2-1. Dayton scraped together just enough offense in the night cap to pull out a 1-0 win and earn a split of the twin bill

Game one of the double header featured a pitcher's duel between RHP Wade Davis (ND) and LHP Travis Wood of the Dragons (ND). Despite a 1-2 record against the Dragons in 2006 Davis had been tough as nails for Dayton to score against with a 0.55 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 16.1 innings coming in to action on Friday. Wood was making his fifth start of the season against the Rays and was 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA and 20 K's in 22.2 innings in his previous four outings against Southwest Michigan.

Neither starting pitcher would be scored upon as the game was scoreless heading into the seventh inning as Davis was removed in favor of Eduardo DeLaCruz (ND). Davis struck out eight Dragons on the night to take over the MWL lead in the category with 158 on the season. He allowed two hits and no runs in earning a no decision. Wood matched his longest outing of the season with 7.0 innings but did factor in the decision. Wood allowed two hits, walked three and struck out five. The five K's moved him past 2000 Dragon Jose Acevedo into third place on the single season with 124.

The Dragons finally pushed a run across in the top of the ninth inning against Aaron Walker (WP, 6-4). Adam Rosales led off the inning and reached on a Cesar Suarez error. B.J. Szymanski singled to left to move Rosales to second with none down. A two out two base hit by Eric Eymann scored Rosales from second and Dayton led 1-0.

The Rays picked up the game winner in the bottom of the inning with some help from the Dragons. Jose Rojas (LP, 0-2) walked two in the inning, including the leadoff man Jackson Brennan. With one down, a walk to Suarez moved a runner into scoring position for J.T. Hall. Hall laced a shot into the right field corner past Jay Bruce. The Rays had a log jam with a pair of runners standing at third and Hall rounding second base heading towards the third base bag. Brennan sprinted home and slid home safely when the relay throw from Habelito Hernandez's throw got over the head of catcher Craig Tatum. The Rays scored the winning run when the errant Hernandez throw got past Rojas, who was backing up the play, giving the Rays the 2-1 win.

In the second game of the DH Carlos Fisher (WP, 12-5) continued his dominance of the Devil Rays, tossing 5.0 innings of two hit shutout baseball. Fisher tied a career high with 10 strikeouts on the night. The right hander did not allow a hit after a two out single by Hall in the bottom of the first inning. With his 12th win of the season, Fisher joined Ryan Mottl, 15 wins (2000) and Brad Salmon, 12 wins (2002) as the only pitchers in Dragons history with 12 or more wins in a season.

Dayton got on the board in the top of the second inning picking up a two out RBI single to center from catcher Chris Denove. Hernandez led off the inning reaching first base after getting hit by a Mike Wlodarczyk (8-10) pitch to lead off the inning. Hernandez was moved to second base on a sac bunt by Gerardo Cabrera before heading home on the Denove single.

Sean Watson (ND) pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Damian Ursin (SV, 5) shut down the Devil Rays in the ninth inning as the Dragons earned the split in the twin bill.

The Dragons and Devil Rays continue the four game series at C.O. Brown Stadium on Thursday night with a 7:05 PM first pitch. 1410 ESPN Radio WING AM will carry all the action live beginning with the Dragons Magazine Show at 6:00 PM; the Dragons Pre Game Show will follow at 6:30 PM. RHP Rafael Gonzalez (2-3, 5.83 ERA) will make the start for Dayton. The Rays will counter with RHP Greg Reinhard (5-9, 4.37 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 August 25, 2006


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