MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons Win Again; Wildcard Lead Increases to Three

Published on August 13, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Midland, Mich.-Michael McKennon collected three hits and drove in a run while pitchers Curtis Partch and Jeff Jeffords combined to scatter seven hits as the Dayton Dragons defeated the Great Lakes Loons 4-2 on Wednesday night. The Dragons win coupled with a Fort Wayne loss to South Bend increased the Dragons lead to three games on Fort Wayne in the wildcard race with 18 games to play.

The Dragons improved their second half record to 28-24 with the win, matching their first half victory total.

The Dragons picked up the lead for good in the second inning. Denis Phipps started the rally with an infield single that hit the third base bag. Devin Mesoraco lined a double over the head of right fielder Alfredo Silverio that moved Phipps to third. McKennon lined a single to right that scored Phipps to make it 1-0. Mesoraco scored when Jake Kahaulelio grounded into a fielder's choice to give the Dragons a 2-0 lead.

The Dragons scored an usuaul run in the fourth, McKennon reached on an infield single with one out. With Kahaulelio batting, Great Lakes catcher Kenley Jansen tried to pick McKennon off first base, but threw the ball into right field. McKennon went to second on Jansen's error, but when Silverio backed up the play and threw wildly to second, McKennon was able to race all the way around to score to make it 3-0.

Great Lakes scored one run in the fourth against Partch, the only run he allowed in five innings of work in a spot starting role in place of the injured Luis Montano. Over his five innings, Partch allowed five hits and one walk while striking out two to earn the win and improve to 4-9.

The Dragons increased their lead to three again in the fifth when Keltavious Jones singled to center, went to second on Zack Cozart's ground out, advanced to third on Neftali Soto's infield single, and scored on Brandon Waring's ground out to make it a 4-1 game.

Jeffords replaced Partch to begin the bottom of the sixth and allowed one run in that inning on a two-out RBI single by Silverio, but Jeffords settled down and allowed only one base runner the rest of the way as he worked the final four innings of the game for his fourth save.

The Dragons finished with 10 hits. Along with McKennon's three hits, Jones was on base four times with a hit and three walks. Soto added two hits.

The Dragons continue their three-game series at Great Lakes on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. Juan Rafael (3-1, 4.54) will start for Dayton. The Dragons next home game is Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.

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Midwest League Stories from August 13, 2008


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