Sports stats



MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Lugnuts Get Some Help in Pulling Out 3-1 Win

June 8, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Lansing, MI - The Dayton Dragons (28-33) played 7.2 innings of great baseball against the Lansing Lugnuts (36-23) leading 1-0 before the unbelievable happened. Lansing got the benefit of the doubt on a controversial call that would have ended the inning preserving the 1-0 lead. The call went against the Dragons and David Hicks delivered a three RBI double as the Lugnuts came from behind to beat the Dragons 3-1 at Oldsmobile Park.

Jay Bruce got the Dragons on the board in the top half of inning number three with his Dragons best 43rd RBI and 22nd double of the season. Josh Holden got the inning started off Lugnuts starter Aaron Tressler (ND) with a gap triple to right center. Mike Griffin was hit by a Tressler pitch to put runners on the corners with none down. After a Mike DeJesus strikeout for the first out of the inning, Bruce rifled a shot into the right field corner, picking up his MWL best 37th extra base hit of the season and giving the Dragons a 1-0 lead.

Zach Ward (ND) was outstanding again for the Dragons in his 11th appearance of the season, his ninth as a starter. The right hander tossed 6.0 innings of baseball striking out eight and not allowing a run. Lansing got only one batter as far as third base on the night. The highlight for Ward and Dayton in the field and perhaps the lowlight for Lansing was Anthony Hatch falling for the hidden ball trick at first base to end the third inning.

Tressler was almost as impressive on the night, holding the Dragons to just one run and six hits on the night. The right hander struck out a season high eight hitters but left trailing 1-0.

Dayton brought in Justin Mallett (LP, 0-2) to start the seventh inning and the right hander responded with a one, two, three inning with a pair of strikeouts. Mallet got the first two hitters of the eighth inning before a walk to Anthony Hatch and a single by Cory Patton prompted Billy Gardner to go to the bullpen for the second time on the night. Blake Hendley (ND) entered and faced Brian Pettway as his first hitter. Pettway hit a grounder to Griffin at short, who went to DeJesus at second base for what appeared to the 7,415 in attendance at Oldsmobile Park to be a force out for the third out of the inning. The bases umpire called Patton safe at second base and the inning continued, after a lengthy argument by Gardner. David Hicks knocked a ball out to center that Bruce appeared to lose in the lights. The ball dropped safely to the turf and all three runners on base scored, giving Lansing a 3-1 lead.

Yesson Berroa (WP, 3-1) who pitched a scoreless eighth inning gave way to Paul Philips (SV, 10) in the ninth. Philips set down the Dragons one, two, three and the Lugnuts pulled out the come from behind win.

The Dragons and Lugnuts wrap up the four game series Friday night at Oldsmobile Park with a 7:05 PM first pitch. RHP Johnny Cueto (5-1, 3.10 ERA) will get the start for Dayton in the series finale, while Lansing counters with RHP Billy Carnline (5-2, 1.75 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.

Check out the Dayton Dragons Statistics



Midwest League Stories from June 8, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central