MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Nurre Leads Dragons to 5-3 Win

Published on August 27, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


South Bend, Ind.-Tommy Nurre hit a three-run home run and Josh Smith pitched out of bases loaded jams in both the eighth and ninth innings as the Dayton Dragons defeated the South Bend Silver Hawks 5-3 on Friday night. The Dragons, winners of six of their last seven games, took two of three in the series, giving them their first road series win since July 7-9 when they won three straight at Bowling Green.

The Dragons took the lead in the second inning when Nurre belted a three-run home run to left-center field. It was Nurre's first swing since coming off the disabled list with a strained hip and his fourth homer of the year. Nurre's home run came after singles by Frank Pfister and Josh Garton.

South Bend scored one run in the third inning. After a walk and a hit batsman, David Nick doubled to the fence in left field as the runner at second scored easily. The runner at first also tried to score, but the Dragons nailed him at the plate on a relay throw from Didi Gregorius and a tag by catcher Chase Weems. South Bend scored again in the fourth when Ramon Castillo doubled in Bobby Borchering from first base to make it 3-2.

Dayton answered with a run in the fifth inning when Gregorius singled and scored on a double by Henry Rodriguez to make it 4-2. The hit extended Rodriguez's hitting streak to 12 straight games.

Dragons starting pitcher Jacob Johnson worked the first five innings, allowing five hits and two runs with two walks and three strikeouts.

Jamie Walczak fired two scoreless innings in relief of Walczak before South Bend scored a single run in the eighth against reliever Tzu-Kai Chiu to pull to within one at 4-3. Josh Smith replaced Chiu and pitched out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam to strand the tying run at third.

The Dragons scored in the top of the ninth when Kevyn Feiner singled, went to second on a sacrifice by Justin Reed, and scored on Gregorius' hit to right to make it 5-3.

Smith retired the first two batters in the bottom of the ninth before yielding a single and a walk. Ramon Castillo reached on a Nurre error to load the bases, but Smith got Ender Inciarte to fly out to left to end the game.

Johnson (8-6) earned the victory and is 8-2 over his last 10 decisions. Smith recorded his first professional save.

The Dragons finished with 16 hits as all nine starters collected at least one. Chase Weems was 3 for 4. Reed, Gregorius, Rodriguez, Garton, and Nurre each had two hits.

The Dragons (18-41, 48-80) travel to Lansing, Michigan to take on the Lansing Lugnuts on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. Clayton Shunick (2-1, 3.07) will start for Dayton against Egan Smith (6-3, 4.65). The next home game is Wednesday vs. Bowling Green at 7:00 p.m. at Fifth Third Field.

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Midwest League Stories from August 27, 2010


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