MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons Remain Perfect, Beat Silver Hawks 9-2

Published on April 9, 2007 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


South Bend, IN - The Dayton Dragons (3-0) continued their undefeated start to the season by using the same combination that worked in the first two wins: 5.0 innings from the starter, solid bullpen work, and clutch hitting. Those three ingredients helped the Dragons to a 6-2 victory over the South Bend Silver Hawks (0-3) in the first road game of the season at Coveleski Stadium.

After getting the first two outs without any trouble in the top of the second, South Bend starter Mark Romanczuk (LP, 0-1) ran into all sorts of problems. Romanczuk hit DH Justin Tordi with a pitch, then allowed a first-pitch single to Chris Heisey. After getting a 0-2 count on Drew Stubbs, Romanczuk crossed up both the batter and his catcher with a curve ball. Stubbs swung and missed, but the wild pitch allowed him to reach first base to load the bases. Justin Turner then drew a walk, forcing in a run, and giving the Dragons the 1-0 advantage. Chris Valaika followed with a 2-RBI single to center, and the Dragons took a 3-0 lead.

Romanczuk was finished after just two innings, and relieved by Eddie Romero (ND). Romero was greeted rudely by the Dragons in the top of the 3rd as Dayton scored twice in the frame. Denis Phipps singled, then scored one out later on an RBI single from Eddy Rodriguez. Justin Tordi singled for his first hit as a Dragon, but was forced at second on a groundball by Heisey. Dayton wasn't finished for the inning as Drew Stubbs picked up his third RBI of the season with a single to left, putting Dayton up 5-0.

South Bend cracked the scoreboard in the 4th inning off Dragons starter Darryl Thompson (WP, 1-0) when Matt Oxendine led off the inning with a home run to left field. That would be the only knock against Thompson for the night, as he went 5.0 innings, allowing just two hits and one run. Thompson struck out five in his Dayton Dragons debut, and did not walk a batter.

Dayton extended the lead back to five runs in the top of the sixth off of Romero. With two down in the inning, Denis Phipps beat out an infield single, then scored when Jason Louwsma used his first hit of the season to drive him in with a double to right-center field.

Thompson turned the game over to the bullpen after five innings. Pedro Viola (ND) pitched two scoreless innings, striking out two in his Dragons debut. In the eighth, Ramon Geronimo (ND) allowed a one out single to Yunesky Sanchez, a walk to Shane Byrne, and an RBI infield single to Oxendine. The run was charged as unearned however, as Sanchez would have never scored had it not been for an earlier throwing error on catcher Eddy Rodriguez, allowing Sanchez to go to third.

Dayton scored three more times in the top of the ninth, and did so with only one hit. Louwsma, Rodriguez, and Tordi all drew walks, and all came in to score in the inning. RBIs in the inning were credited to Heisey on a single, Stubbs on an error, and Turner on a ground out. Geronimo shut out the Silver Hawks in the bottom of the ninth to end the game, and keep the Dragons undefeated.

The Dragons and Silver Hawks continue the four game series on Tuesday night at 6:30 PM from Coveleski Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. RHP Rafael Gonzalez will get the starting nod for the Dragons, while South Bend counters with left-hander Shane Dove. 1410 ESPN Radio will carry the game live beginning with the pregame show at 6 PM. The game will also be carried live on the internet via All-In Broadcasting at www.daytondragons.com.

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Midwest League Stories from April 9, 2007


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