MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Fisher hooks Whitecaps as Dragons win 1-0

June 12, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, OH - 8,687 fans at Fifth Third Field Monday, saw the fastest nine inning game the Dayton Dragons (30-35) have turned in on the 2006 season. The Dragons and West Michigan Whitecaps (38-24) found offense at a premium and outstanding pitching plentiful as Carlos Fisher (WP, 6-3) tossed 7.0 innings of three hit, 10 strikeout, shutout baseball as Dayton snapped a two game losing streak with a 1-0 win. The shutout for Dayton was the seventh of the season, eclipsing the six shutouts turned in by the 2005 version of the Dragons.

Fisher was dominating in the early going, tossing four perfect innings out of the gate, not allowing a hit until Justin Justice picked up a lead off single to open the fifth for West Michigan. Fisher's seventh K of the night would follow for the first out of the inning. Matt Joyce singled to right to put runners at first and second with one down. A fielder's choice ground ball moved Justice to third with two down but Fisher escaped damage with his eighth punch out of the night, getting Cory Middleton on strikes to end the inning.

The Dragons picked up their only run of the night in the home half of the fifth to take the 1-0 lead. ‘Caps starter Luke French (LP, 5-4) was cruising along through four allow three hits and no runs before running into trouble to open the inning. Eric Eymann and Craig Tatum opened the inning with back-to-back walks for first and second with none down. Josh Holden got a sac bunt down to advance the runners to second and third with one out. Mike DeJesus came through knocking home the lone run of the night on a sac fly to left, deep enough to score Eymann from third as Justice's throw sailed up the third base line and the Dragons led.

Fisher's last inning of work, the seventh was part grit and part luck. Justice struck out to open the inning for the first out. Mike Hernandez followed with a shot to deep center that chased B.J. Szymanski all the way back to the wall at 402 feet. The Dragons caught a break as the ball bounced on the warning track and hopped into the lawn section for a ground rule double. The fortunate hop took away what appeared to be a three base hit for Hernandez, had the ball remained in play. Joyce grounded to second to move Hernandez to third with one out. Fisher dug deep and stuck out Mike Holliman for his tenth K of the night to end the inning. The right hander's 10 strikeouts match Travis Wood for the Dragons season high in 2006.

Damian Ursin (ND) pitched around a lead off walk in the eighth inning, getting some help from catcher Craig Tatum who gunned down Middleton trying to steal second base to move into scoring position. Blake Hendley (SV, 12) converted on his first save in his last three tries and first since May 25th with a one, two, three ninth inning to preserve the win for Fisher, who tied Johnny Cueto for the team lead in wins with six.

The Dragons and Whitecaps wrap up the four game series on Tuesday night at Fifth Third Field with a 7 p.m. first pitch. RHP Zach Ward (4-0, 3.07 ERA) will get the start for Dayton, while the Whitecaps counter with LHP Ramon Garcia (7-1, 1.70 ERA). 1410 ESPN Radio WING AM will carry the game live beginning with the Dragons pre game show at 6:30 PM. All Dragons games in 2006 can also be heard live on the internet at www.daytondragons.com.

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Midwest League Stories from June 12, 2006


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