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MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons Snap Four Game Skid with 2-1 Win in Pitcher's Duel

July 29, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Cedar Rapids, IA- The Dayton Dragons (15-20, 45-60) had two streaks snapped on Friday night against the Cedar Rapids Kernels (15-20, 45-60) and weren't disappointed about seeing either go by the wayside. A 2-1 Dragons win in the first game of a four game series at Veteran's Memorial Stadium, ended an overall losing streak of four straight for the Dragons and snapped a seven game road losing streak. The win also gave the Dragons five straight wins over Cedar Rapids and sewed up the '05 season series against the Kernels.

Francisco Cordova (ND) the Kernels started on Friday night was a reliever without much of a track record as a starting pitcher. Someone forgot to give the right hander that message. Cordova, making just his third start of the season in 23 total appearances on the mound, retired 18 of the first 19 Dragons he faced on the night. The lone Dayton batter that reached was in the top of the first inning, as Dragons center fielder B.J. Szymanski took Cordova deep over the wall in right center for a solo HR and a 1-0 Dayton lead.

Dragons starter Omar Segovia (ND) had to battle, but the lefty made the lead stand up through five innings. Segovia scattered five hits in his second outing for Dayton in '05 and got plenty of defensive help from his teammates. Cody Strait gunned down Alexis Casilla at home plate in the third inning to preserve the lead. Casilla picked up a one out double in the third inning and was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a Josh LeBlanc single.

Neither starting pitcher figured in the decision but both certainly pitched well enough to win the game. Segovia was the first to depart tossing 5.0 innings of shutout baseball. In addition to allowing five this, Segoiva struck out and walked one batter. Cordova pitched into the seventh inning before being lifted after 6.2 innings. The right hander allowed just two hits and one run striking out five and walking one.

Cedar Rapids tied the game at 1-1 with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning off Homer Bailey (W, 4-4). Casilla picked up a lead off single and then proceeded to swipe second and third. LeBlanc chopped a ball off the plate towards Bradley Key at third; Casilla scooted home from third to tie the game on the infield RBI single, the ninth run batted in for LeBlanc on the season.

Dayton got the winning run across the plate in the top half of the eighth inning, playing "small ball" and applying pressure on the Cedar Rapids defense. With one down, Strait picked up an infield single and stole second base off Kernel catcher Michael Collins. Strait was off again looking for a swipe of third base. The Dayton right field dove in safely and motored home when the throw from Collins sailed into left field for a throwing error. The Dragons grabbed the advantage at 2-1.

Bailey finished his night giving way to Blake Hendley (SV, 14) with two outs in the eighth inning. Bailey tossed 2.2 innings of one run, three hit baseball. The fire balling right hander struck out four and hit one batter on route to picking up his fourth win. Hendley tossed the final 1.1 innings to notch his 14th save allowing one hit.

The Dragons and Kernels continue the four game series at Veteran's Memorial Stadium Saturday night at 8:00 PM. LHP Juan Frias will make the start for the Dragons, while the Kernels will throw RHP Karl Gelinas. 1410 ESPN Radio WING AM broadcasting the game live, beginning with the pre game show at 7:30 PM.

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Midwest League Stories from July 29, 2005


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