MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons Use Two Out Rallies To Defeat Quad Cities

Published on April 20, 2007 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, OH - One night after the Dayton Dragons (10-1) allowed 15 runs on 13 hits to the Swing of the Quad Cities (7-8), the Miami Valley's Team came to the ballpark angry and looking for revenge. Dayton got even by rallying with two outs, scoring seven of their nine runs with their backs against the wall on their way to 9-5 victory in front of 8,905 fans at Fifth Third Field on Friday night.

The 2006 Billings Mustangs scored 30% of their season's runs with two outs in the inning. That sort of clutch hitting led the team to a 51-25 overall record and a playoff berth. The 2007 Dayton Dragons, featuring many of the same players, have picked up where the Mustangs left off. Logan Parker picked up an RBI with two down in both the first and third innings, and Jason Louwsma added a two-out, three-run home run in the 7th. The round-tripper was the first of the season for Louwsma.

Chris Valaika had four hits to raise his season batting average to a Midwest League best .455, and he fell just a home run shy of the cycle. The Dragons shortstop singled and scored in the first, tripled and scored in the third, singled in the fifth, and had a two RBI double in the 7th. Valaika stretched his hitting streak to 10 games, recording at least one hit in every game since going hitless on Opening Night.

The only reason Valaika doesn't have the top hitting streak on the Dragons in 2007 is because his teammate Drew Stubbs has hit in all 11 games played thus far. Stubbs was back at it again on Friday night, with a home run, a single, and two runs scored. The blast to left field in the fourth inning was Stubbs' first long ball of the season.

On the pitching front, Sean Watson (WP, 2-0) allowed two runs over 5.0 innings and struck out a season-high 10 hitters on the night. Marcos Mateo (ND) allowed one run over 2.1 innings, and Lee Tabor (ND) gave up a two-run home run to Omar Falcon, the only runs the left-hander allowed in 1.2 innings of work.

Dayton opens up a four game series with the Burlington Bees at Fifth Third Field Saturday night at 7 PM. RHP Jordan Smith (1-0, 1.80 ERA) will make his third start of the year for the Dragons, while the Bees turn to RHP Harold Mozingo (1-1, 1.64 ERA). 1410 ESPN Radio WING AM will broadcast the game live, beginning with the Dragons Magazine at 6 PM, followed by the Dragons Pre Game Show at 6:30 PM. Saturday's game will also be televised live on Dragons TV, Time Warner Cable Channel 25. Todd Benzinger, a member of the 1990 World Series Champion Cincinnati Reds, will join Mike Vander Wood with the call of the action. All Dragons games in 2007 can also be heard on the internet via All In Broadcasting at www.daytondragons.com.

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Midwest League Stories from April 20, 2007


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