MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons Win Fifth Straight, Now 30-15 in Half

Published on August 11, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Comstock Park, Mich.-David Vidal hit a two-run home run and Juan Duran added a three-run homer as the Dayton Dragons defeated the West Michigan Whitecaps 7-2 on Thursday night. The win was the Dragons fifth straight and improved their second half record to 30-15. It is the first time the Dragons have been 15 games over .500 since the 2007 season. The Dragons lead the Eastern Division by three and one-half games and hold a six and one-half game cushion in the playoff race with 25 games to play.

The Dragons jumped out to an immediate lead in the top of the first inning when Ronald Torreyes singled with one out and Vidal followed with a long home run to center field, his 17th homer of the year, to make it 2-0.

Then the Dragons took command in the third, scoring four runs. Donald Lutz lined a run-scoring single to center with two outs to make it 3-0, and Duran followed with a three-run home run to left to give Dayton a 6-0 lead. It was Duran's 12th homer of the season.

West Michigan broke a 12-inning scoreless drought when Steven Moya belted a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to make it 6-2, but the Dragons answered in the seventh when Lutz walked with the bases loaded to force in a run and give Dayton a 7-2 lead.

Dragons starting pitcher Stalin Gerson worked the first five and two-thirds innings, allowing seven hits and two runs with two walks and four strikeouts to earn the win and improve to 5-1.

Reliever Pat Doyle worked two and one-third innings of scoreless baseball, allowing two hits and one walk with three strikeouts. Blaine Howell pitched a perfect ninth inning, notching a strikeout to end the game.

The Dragons finished with nine hits. Jefrey Sierra was 3 for 4. Vidal was 1 for 2 with three walks.

The Dragons close out the three-game series with the Whitecaps on Friday at 7:00 p.m. (WONE 980 AM) as they go for a sweep of the set and try to close out the six-game road trip with a perfect record. Josh Smith (10-6, 2.94) will start for Dayton against West Michigan's Victor Larez (2-2, 6.14). The next home game is Saturday, August 13 vs. Lake County at Fifth Third Field.

Note: Please see the change to Sunday's schedule: The Dragons host Lake County in a suspended game doubleheader. The suspended game will resume at 2:00 p.m. with Dayton leading 2-0 at the end of three innings and the Dragons playing as the visiting team. The second game will follow and will be a seven-inning game. Tickets for Sunday, August 14 will be good for both games.

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Midwest League Stories from August 11, 2011


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