MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons Rally Late, Win 3-2

Published on May 13, 2009 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, Ohio-A record-breaking performance by Dayton Dragons pitchers on Wednesday night was overshadowed by a Dragons comeback victory as they scored one run in the seventh inning and another in the eighth to defeat West Michigan 2-1. The Dragons and Whitecaps have split the first two games of the series.

Dragons starting pitcher Matt Fairel came within one strike of matching the club record for strikeouts in a game. He struck out 13 over six innings. Fairel was replaced by Mace Thurman, who notched another seven strikeouts over the final three innings to give Dragons pitchers 20 strikeouts on the night, eclipsing the team record of 18.

West Michigan took the lead in the third inning on a solo home run by Gustavo Nunez, the first of his professional career.

The Dragons tied the game in the bottom of the seventh on a one-out, solo home run by Jose Gualdron, his first of the season to make it 1-1.

In the bottom of the eighth with two outs and the bases empty, Cody Puckett doubled to the left field corner. The next batter, Carlos Mendez, hit a hard ground ball toward the middle. Second baseman Brandon Douglas made a diving try and kept the ball in the infield. As the ball deflected off the glove of Douglas, it was picked up by the shortstop, Nunez. Puckett never broke stride around third and likely would have been out at the plate, but Nunez's throw home was over the head of the catcher and went to the screen as Puckett scored to give Dayton a 2-1 lead.

Thurman hit the lead-off man in the top of the ninth but got a double play ground ball and a strikeout to end the game.

Dayton improved to 9-23 on the season while West Michigan fell to 21-10.

The Dragons host the Whitecaps in the third game of a four-game series on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at Fifth Third Field. Josh Ravin (1-3, 4.99) will start for Dayton against West Michigan's Luke Putkonen (1-1, 2.48). The series will conclude on Friday at 7:05 in a game that will be televised by WHIO Digital Channel 7.2 (Channel 708 on most Time Warner Cable systems). Former Reds infielder Chris Sexton will provide color commentary on the telecast.

Notes: The start of the game was delayed by rain for one hour, 17 minutes.

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Midwest League Stories from May 13, 2009


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