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MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Silver Hawks rock Wood and Dragons 8-3

July 12, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


South Bend, IN - The Dayton Dragons (9-11, 44-46) had a chance to make up ground on the South Bend Silver Hawks (16-4, 49-37), who came into action on Wednesday night as the hottest team in the Midwest League, having won five straight games. The Silver Hawks raced out to a 7-0 lead and picked up their sixth consecutive win overall and 10th in 13 tries against the Dragons in 2006 with an 8-3 victory in the opening game of the three game series at Coveleski Stadium.

For the second time in three recent road starts, Dragons left hander Travis Wood (LP, 6-2) was knocked around early on by the opposition. The Silver Hawks roughed up the Dayton starter on Wednesday night for seven runs, five earned, in 2.1 innings of work. Wood surrendered five runs in the first inning to South Bend and another two in the second before being lifted with one out in the bottom of the third. Will Crouch picked up a two run triple in the first inning and added a solo homer in the third. Ricardo Sosa added an RBI single in the first inning and the Dragons helped out with three errors that directly led to runs as the Silver Hawks jumped out to a 7-0 lead through two innings.

Adam Howard (WP, 5-2) did not need to be razor sharp on the hill for South Bend with the early advantage but managed to last through the seventh inning, allowing only a pair of runs on five hits with six strikeouts. Dayton scored an unearned run off Howard in the top of the third inning on an error by Sosa at third base to get on the board. B.J. Szymanski knocked in the second run of the night for the Dragons with a solo home run to lead off the fourth. Szymanski's 13th of the season got Dayton to within 7-2.

Crouch completed his monster night in the seventh inning with his second homer of the night, a bomb to left center off Jose Rojas (ND) that completely flew out of Coveleski Stadium. The slugging first baseman now has hit six homers in his last five games.

The Dragons loaded the bases with one out in the ninth inning off Silver Hawks reliever Jake Baxter (ND) but could only manage one run. Szymanski, Adam Rosales and Habelito Hernandez hit back-to-back-to-back singles and Eric Eymann picked up the RBI when Baxter issued him a walk with the bases loaded for the third Dayton run of the night. Baxter struck out Chris Denove for the second out of the inning and Josh Holden grounded out to second to end the game as South Bend picked up the 8-3 win.

Grant Balfour (ND) making his second rehab appearance for the Dragons looked sharp, posting another one, two, three inning, including a pair of strikeouts.

Dayton continues the three game series at South Bend on Thursday night. 1410 ESPN Radio WING AM will carry all the action live beginning with the Dragons Pre Game Show at 6:30 PM; Monday night's first pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM. RHP Zach Ward (7-0, 2.51 ERA) will make the start for Dayton, while the Silver Hawks counter with RHP Anthony Cupps (6-4, 4.78 ERA). All Dragons games in 2006 can also be heard live on the internet at www.daytondragons.com.

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Midwest League Stories from July 12, 2006


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