MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Lugnuts Break Through Late, Beat Dragons 4-1

Published on August 29, 2007 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Lansing, MI - The Dayton Dragons wrapped up the final road trip of the regular season at Oldsmobile Park Wednesday night with the second game of a two game series against the Lansing Lugnuts. A win for the Dragons would split the two game set and give Dayton a 2-4 record on the six game trip through West Michigan and Lansing. It was a great pitcher's duel, but the Lugnuts proved a little bit too tough with the 4-1 victory sending the Dragons to a 1-5 record on the trip.

Both Anthony Gressick (LP, 5-8) of Dayton and Rey Gonzalez (WP, 8-7) of Lansing were on top of their game as neither starting pitcher was willing to surrender any early runs. Through six innings, the Dragons were the only team to get a runner as far as third base. In the top of the second inning, Todd Frazier doubled with two down and made it to third on a passed ball charged to Lansing catcher Matt Liuzza. The Lugnuts could only manage base runners as far as second base against Gressick, who was just as tough as Gonzalez.

Lansing broke through first, picking up a run off Gressick in the bottom half of the sixth inning. Matt Lane, who had reached on a single in the second and an error in the fourth, took a 2-2 pitch over the wall in right field with two outs in the inning. The eighth home run of the season for Lane put Lansing on top 1-0. That would be the only run Gressick allowed in his 6.0 innings before turning the game over to the bullpen.

Once Gressick was gone from the game, Lansing was able to score a couple more runs in the bottom of the seventh. With Philippe Valiquette (ND) on in relief, Brian Pettway picked up a pinch hit leadoff double in the seventh. Pettway moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jonathan Diaz, and scored when Valiquette threw the ball down the first base line for an error. Diaz ended up at second base, went to third on a single by Chris Emanuele, and scored two outs later on a RBI single from Matt Liuzza for the 3-0 lead.

Dayton finally dented the dish against Gonzalez in the top of the eighth. The right hander allowed a leadoff double to Jason Louwsma and a one out RBI single to Eddy Rodriguez to bring the Dragons within two. After getting a fielder's choice from Zack Cozart, Gonzalez was replaced by Edgar Estanga (SV, 4). Estanga struck out Logan Parker to end the Dragons threat in the eighth.

The Lugnuts picked up a big insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning. With Valiquette still on the hill, back-to-back one out singles by Raul Barron and Pettway had runners at first and second. One out later, Emanuele recorded his third single of the night, driving in Barron for the 4-1 advantage.

The Dragons and Lugnuts will switch venues to Fifth Third Field for the first of two games beginning on Thursday night. The two game series from Dayton gets underway with a 7:00 PM first pitch. 1410 ESPN Radio will carry the game live beginning with the Dragons Pre Game Show at 6:30 PM. All Dragons games in 2007 are also streamed live on the internet at www.daytondragons.com via All In Broadcasting. LHP Travis Webb (7-5, 3.51 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Dragons. The Lugnuts are slated to throw RHP Julio Pinto (3-4, 4.48 ERA).

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Midwest League Stories from August 29, 2007


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