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MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Offense at Full Strength for Second Consecutive Night in 9-3 Win

September 2, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Fort Wayne, IN - Bradley Key and Bobby Mosby had four hit nights, Tonys Gutierrez went three for five with three runs batted in as the Dayton Dragons (28-38, 58-78) used a five run sixth inning to put away the Fort Wayne Wizards (26-41, 64-73) by a final of 9-3 in front of 3,560 at Memorial Stadium. The Dragons offense has come to life in the last two games scoring a combined 25 runs on 33 hits.

The Wizards got on the boar in the bottom half of the first inning thanks in part to Dragons starter Ramon Ramirez (W, 5-7). With two down and no one on base, Ramirez hit Peter Ciofrone with a pitch to extend the inning for Matt Lauderdale. Lauderdale lofted a Ramirez pitch over the wall in right center field for his ninth homer of the season. The two run shot gave the Wizards a 2-0 lead.

Dayton evened the count at 2-2 with a pair of runs in the top of the second, picking up three hits off Fort Wayne starter Mike Ekstrom (L, 13-6). Jeremiah Piepkorn and Mosby opened the inning with back-to-back hits. A Chris Kroski fielder's choice put runners on the corners for Key. The first of Key's three hits on the night scored Piepkorn with the first run of the inning. The second run came home on a fielder's choice from Jordan Belcher.

Fort Wayne took a short lived one run lead at 3-2 as Ramirez hit his second batter of the night, plunking Lauderdale in the fourth. Lauderdale stole second base and would come home to score on a wild pitch all the way from second base. Ramirez unloaded a pitch that scooted by Kroski and ended up rolling towards the Wizards dugout on the first base side.

Dayton gave Ramirez the one run advantage with a pair of solo homers in the top of fifth inning off Ekstrom. Cody Strait tied the game at 3-3 with his 13th homer of the season; the solo shot gave the Dragons center fielder 57 runs batted in. Gutierrez picked up a three for five night with the first of his three RBI with a solo homer of his own. Gutierrez's three hits raised his average to .327, second best in the Midwest League.

Ramirez tossed a one-two-three bottom of the fifth inning to qualify for the win. Ramirez allowed three earned runs, despite allowing only one hit. The Lauderdale homer and the two-base wild pitch were the only glitches on the night as the right hander struck out three, walked one and hit a pair.

The Dragons broke the game open with five runs in the top of the sixth inning, picking up two off Ekstrom and three more off reliever Geivy Garcia (ND). Mosby led off the inning with a double and came home on the second RBI single of the night from Key for a 5-3 Dayton lead. After Key's hit, Garcia came on and walked the first two batters he faced, Jordan Belcher and Jorge Mejia, to load the bases. Strait's grounder to third was booted by Chase Headley and scored a pair of runs for a 7-3 Dragons advantage. Gutierrez picked up his second of three hits on the night, plating another pair of runners with a single to left, giving Dayton a 9-3 lead.

The bullpen made the lead stand up, as three pitchers combined to shutout Fort Wayne over the final four innings. Zac Stott (ND), 1.0 innings, Camilo Vazquez (ND), 2.0 innings, and James Morrison (ND), 1.0 innings, helped preserve the win for Ramirez.

The Dragons and Wizards continue the final four game series of the 2005 regular season at Memorial Stadium on Saturday night with a 7:15 PM first pitch. RHP Homer Bailey is scheduled to start for the Dragons in the second game of the series, while the Wizards will throw RHP Josh Geer. 1410 ESPN Radio WING AM will broadcast the game live, beginning with the pre game show at 6:45 PM.

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Midwest League Stories from September 2, 2005


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