MWL Dayton Dragons

Harmon, Fransen Combine on 4-Hit Shutout as Dragons Climb Back to .500 Mark

Published on May 30, 2024 under Midwest League (MWL)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Beloit, Wisc. - Dayton pitchers Johnathan Harmon and Arij Fransen combined on a four-hit shutout as the Dragons defeated the Beloit Sky Carp 1-0 on Thursday night. With the win, the Dragons improved to 24-24, getting back to the .500 mark for the first time since they were 6-6 on April 18. Dayton is 6-3 through the first nine games of their 12-game road trip.

The Dragons also earned a shutout win in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader. They have posted back-to-back shutout wins for the first time since April 26-27, 2022. The Dragons are four games out of first place with 18 games to play in the first half season.

Game Summary: The only run of the game came in the fifth inning. Dayton's Yan Contreras walked to start the inning and Jay Allen II was hit by a pitch. Hector Rodriguez grounded out to second base to advance both runners, and Sal Stewart grounded out to shortstop to drive in Contreras to give Dayton a lead they would hold for the rest of the night.

Johnathan Harmon did not allow a hit until the fifth inning, and did not issue a walk on the night. Harmon threw only 70 pitches over the first six innings and returned to the mound in the seventh, becoming the first Dayton pitcher since 2022 to work beyond the sixth frame. Harmon struck out the first two batters in the seventh before allowing a ground rule double. He was replaced by Arij Fransen, the native of the Netherlands, with a man at second base and two outs.

Fransen walked the first batter he faced and then allowed a base hit to right field that loaded the bases. But the next batter hit a slow dribbler about 20 feet in front of the plate, and Dayton catcher Logan Tanner raced out to grab it with the bare hand and make a quick, off-balance throw to first to get the hitter by a step and save the lead.

Fransen pitched a scoreless eighth and then a perfect ninth for the save, striking out the final two hitters of the game.

Harmon (2-3) allowed just three hits and struck out five over six and two-thirds innings for the win.

Up Next: The Dragons (24-24) battle Beloit (21-26) again in the fourth game of the six-game series on Friday night at 7:35 pm (EDT). Bryce Hubbart (1-3, 6.91) will start for Dayton against Beloit's Thomas White (first appearance).

The next Dragons home game is Tuesday, June 4 at 7:05 pm against the Lansing Lugnuts at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District. 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 May 30, 2024


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