MWL Dayton Dragons

Dragons Win 7-2, Move Back into Tie for First Place

August 6, 2023 - Midwest League (MWL)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, Ohio - Justice Thompson collected three hits and drove in four runs while Austin Hendrick and Jack Rogers both added home runs as the Dayton Dragons defeated the Beloit Sky Carp 7-2 on Sunday afternoon. The teams split the six-game series.

A crowd of 7,931 was in attendance at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District.

The Dragons win lifted them back into a tie for first place with Fort Wayne in the Midwest League's East Division. West Michigan is in third place, just one-half game out of first.

The Dragons took a 2-0 lead in the third inning when Austin Hendrick launched a home run to right field with a runner on base. The homer was Hendrick's ninth of the season and was estimated at 427 feet with an exit velocity of 105 mph.

View the Hendrick home run here: https://twitter.com/DragonsBaseball/status/1688248443846680576?s

After Beloit scored one run in the top of the fourth, the Dragons responded with two more in the bottom half of the same inning. Justice Thompson's single to left field with two outs brought in Jack Rogers and Wendell Marrero to make it 4-1.

In the sixth, Rogers blasted a long home run to right-center field to extend the Dragons lead to 5-1. The home run by Rogers, estimated at 449 feet, was his ninth of the year.

View the Rogers home run here: https://twitter.com/DragonsBaseball/status/1688261472630067200?s

The Dragons added two more runs in the eighth inning when Thompson lined a double to center field to drive in Rogers and Tyler Callihan to make it 7-2. Beloit scored one run in the ninth to close out the scoring.

"Just being able to contribute to the win," said Thompson about his day at the plate. "Having good at bats, putting pieces together. Helping the team win."

"I feel like this will give us enough momentum to keep the energy we've had over the last three weeks and carry it on to this long road trip we've got."

Dragons starting pitcher Carson Rudd (4-4) had a strong outing to earn the win. He went five innings and allowed just one run on three hits with no walks and six strikeouts. Jayvien Sandridge replaced Rudd to start the sixth and worked two scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Braxton Roxby tossed the final two innings, allowing one hit and one run with two walks and two strikeouts.

The Dragons finished with 10 hits in the game. Along with Thompson's three-hit day, Rogers and Callihan each had two hits.

Notes: Dragons second baseman Tyler Callihan made a play in the top of the third inning that would be a candidate for defensive play of the year. With a runner at second and one out, Callihan made a spectacular diving, backhanded catch of a line drive up the middle, then flipped the ball to the shortstop at the second base bag to complete a double play.

View the Callihan play here: https://twitter.com/DragonsBaseball/status/1688246632075182085?s

Up Next: The Dragons (20-16, 53-49) do not play on Monday. They will open a two-city, 12-game road trip on Tuesday, August 8 in Appleton, Wisconsin against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (18-17, 44-55). Kevin Abel (0-0, 7.07) is scheduled to start for Dayton.

The next home game at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District is Tuesday, August 22 when the Dragons host the Lansing Lugnuts at 7:05 p.m. For ticket information, go to daytondragons.com/tickets or call (937) 228-2287.

On the Air: All Dragons home and road games are broadcast on radio on FOX Sports 980 AM WONE. Games can be heard on smart phones, iPads, and other mobile devices via the free Dragons Mobile App, or on a computer at wone.com. Games are also available on HD Radio on 104.7 WTUI HD 2.

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Midwest League Stories from August 6, 2023


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