MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons Win 4-3, Snap Losing Streak

Published on April 29, 2018 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Stuart Fairchild of the Dayton Dragons agrees with the umpire as he crosses the plate
Stuart Fairchild of the Dayton Dragons agrees with the umpire as he crosses the plate
(Dayton Dragons)

Dayton, Ohio-Stuart Fairchild delivered a two-run triple and the Dayton Dragons turned three big double plays as they defeated the Fort Wayne TinCaps 4-3 on Sunday afternoon. The Dragons snapped an eight-game losing streak with the win and salvaged a victory in the three-game series with Fort Wayne.

Dayton starting pitcher Packy Naughton (2-1) earned the win, going six strong innings. Naughton struck out eight and walked only one, allowing three runs on eight hits. Cory Thompson pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Naughton. John Ghyzel entered the game to pitch the ninth inning with a one-run lead and struck out the side in order, firing a 99 mph fastball to get the last strikeout and notch his fourth save.

The victory was the Dragons first win since April 20, a game that extended their winning streak to nine straight. They had lost eight in a row since the winning streak was snapped.

Fort Wayne scored one run in the top of the first inning to take an early lead, but the Dragons bounced back to tie the game in the second on a two-out RBI infield single by Hendrik Clementina. Then in the third, the Dragons took the lead for good. With one out, Jose Garcia and Michael Beltre delivered back-to-back singles. With two outs, Fairchild tripled to the fence in right field, driving in both Garcia and Beltre, and when the relay throw to third from Carlos Belen skipped away, Fairchild raced in to score and give the Dragons a 4-1 lead. (see attached photo of end of play)

Fort Wayne threatened to tie or take the lead in the sixth. They plated one run to make it 4-2, and then loaded the bases with no one out. Justin Lopez hit a bouncing ball toward the middle. Dragons second baseman John Sansone went hard to his backhand side, fielded the ball while in contact with second base, and made an off-balance throw to first to complete a double play as a run scored to make it 4-3. Naughton then got a pick-off to end the inning and preserve the lead.

The Dragons finished with seven hits, all in the first four innings. Beltre and Fairchild each had two.

In the Standings: The win improve the Dragons record 10-11 on the season. They are in fifth place in the Midwest League East Division, five games out of first pending late Sunday finals in other league games.

Up Next: The Dragons do not play on Monday. They open a six-game road trip on Tuesday in Burlington, Iowa against the Burlington Bees at 7:30 p.m. Tyler Buffett (0-0, 4.50) will make his first start for Dayton after logging seven relief appearances.

The next Dragons home game is Monday, May 7th against the Cedar Rapids Kernels at 7:00 p.m. at Fifth Third Field. The game will mark the start of a six-game homestand for Dayton.

All Dragons games are broadcast on radio on Fox Sports 980 WONE and on the internet at wone.com. Games are also available on the Dayton Dragons mobile app.

For Dragons 2018 ticket information, call (937) 228-2287.

Check out the Dayton Dragons Statistics

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Images from this story

Stuart Fairchild of the Dayton Dragons agrees with the umpire as he crosses the plate
Stuart Fairchild of the Dayton Dragons agrees with the umpire as he crosses the plate
   



Midwest League Stories from April 29, 2018


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