MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons Pound Kernels, 11-2, Pick Up Season High 16 Hits

Published on May 13, 2003 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


The Dayton Dragons (19-20) rapped out a season high 16 hits, including a franchise record tying five by Domonique Lewis, on route to handing Cedar Rapids Kernels (19-19) an 11-2 pounding in the first game of a four game series at Fifth Third Field Tuesday night.

Kernels starter Kevin Jepsen (L, 6-2) led the MWL in wins and was fourth in ERA heading into the ball game. The Dragons rocked Jepsen and chased him after 1.0 innings, his shortest stint of the season. Lewis began the first inning with a single and moved to second on a throwing error by Matt Brown. Mark Schramek smoked a triple off the wall in right that scored Lewis and the Dragons led 1-0. Travis Wong followed with an RBI ground out and Dayton led 2-0. After a walk to Justin Davis, Ryan Hanigan made the score 3-0 with an RBI double. Junior Ruiz kept the hit parade going with a single that scored Hanigan and the lead was 4-0. After a Brad Correll single put Dayton runners at first and third, Luis Bolivar's ground ball was booted by Jepsen for the second error of the inning. Ruiz scored and the Dragons lead was 5-0.

That would be all that Dragons pitching would need to pick up the win. Starter Camilo Vazquez (ND) lasted 3.0 innings as a short pitch count worked against him. The left-hander allowed a solo homer to Alberto Callaspo in the second inning and a RBI to Erick Aybar in the third to close Cedar Rapids to within 5-2.

Kyle Lucas (W, 1-1) would make sure that the Kernels would get no closer. Lucas tossed 5.0 of one hit, no run baseball. The right-hander struck out five and walked two in picking up the win. Joel Barreto added a scoreless inning to close out the game in the ninth.

The Dragons continued to tee off against whomever was on the hill for the Kernels. Dayton picked up three more in the fourth, this time around off of reliever Jeff Marquez, all courtesy of Wong. The big first baseman picked up RBI 2-4 on the night with a bases load and bases clearing double that put the "Fire Breathers" up 8-2.

Dayton kept the scoreboard operator on his toes adding more off of the Kernels pen in the fifth. Lewis, who picked up the second five hit game in franchise history added an RBI single off Dustin Griffith scoring Ruiz who doubled and the lead was 9-2. Lewis joins Austin Kearns as the only Dragons with five hit games. Kearns picked up his five hit gem on July 21, 2000 against the Lansing Lugnuts.

Howard finished up the scoring in the seventh with a two RBI double that plated Bolivar and Lewis for an 11-2 advantage.

The Dragons and Kernels continue the four game series Wednesday night at Fifth Third Field. 1410 ESPN Radio WING AM will carry the game live with the pre game show beginning at 6:30 pm. LHP Juan Frias will get the start for the Dragons while Cedar Rapids will start RHP Rafael Rodriguez.

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Midwest League Stories from May 13, 2003


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