MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Lugnuts Hold off Dragons, 5-4

Published on May 29, 2015 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, Ohio-The Lansing Lugnuts held off a ninth inning comeback bid by the Dayton Dragons to earn a 5-4 victory in the first game of a four-game series on Friday night. A crowd of 9,345, largest of 2015 for the Dragons, attended the game at Fifth Third Field.

The Dragons trailed 5-3 when they came to bat in the bottom of the ninth. Narciso Crook and Nick Benedetto both singled with one out before Luis Gonzalez grounded into a fielder's choice with Benedetto out at second. But back-to-back walks to Jimmy Pickens and Ronald Bueno forced in a run to make it 5-4. With the bases loaded, Avain Rachal grounded out to shortstop to end the game.

Lansing built a 4-1 lead before the Dragons battled back in the sixth inning. Bueno walked to start the inning and Rachal doubled to the left field fence to drive him in. After Paul Kronenfeld walked, Jose Ortiz doubled to left to drive in Rachal and make it 4-3. But with runners at second and third, Lansing reliever Colton Turner struck out Gavin LaValley, Crook, and Benedetto in order to end the threat. Lansing added a run in the top of the ninth to build their lead to 5-3.

Dragons starting pitcher Wyatt Strahan (4-4) suffered the loss. He worked five and one-third innings, allowing seven hits and four runs (two earned) with three walks and seven strikeouts.

The Dragons defense made some costly mistakes, committing three errors and a passed ball that led to two unearned runs.

The Lugnuts (29-20) remained in first place with the win, while the Dragons (26-23) stayed in third place, three games out of first and one game out of second.

The Dragons collected seven hits. Rachal led the offense with two doubles and two runs batted in. Benedetto had a single and a double. Kronenfeld walked twice but went 0 for 2 to snap his seven-game hitting streak.

The Dragons host Lansing in game two of the series on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at Fifth Third Field. Tejay Antone (3-3, 1.73) will start for Dayton against Lansing's Sean Reid-Foley (1-1, 4.45).

Saturday's game will be televised on WHIO digital channel 7.2, MeTV (Time Warner Cable channels 23 and 372).

All Dragons games are broadcast on radio on Fox Sports 980 WONE and on the internet at wone.com. Games are also available on the Dayton Dragons mobile app.

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Midwest League Stories from May 29, 2015


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