Snappers take season series over Dayton with 3-1 win Friday night
August 4, 2006 - International Basketball League (IBL)
Dayton Jets News Release
Beloit, WI - With a win in the final game of the four game series at Pohlman Field on Friday night, the Dayton Dragons (21-19, 56-54) would win the series from the Beloit Snappers (23-18, 58-50) three games to one and would have the most successful eight game road trip of the 2006 season, finishing the Western Division swing with a 6-2 record. The Dragons fell victim to a left handed strikeout machine as Alexander Smit (WP, 5-1) struck out 12 Dragons over 6.0 innings as the Snappers pulled out a 3-1 victory. Even with the loss, the Dragons still managed a 5-3 road trip.
Robert Manuel (LP, 0-3) got the start for the Dragons getting put back in the starting rotation with the trade of Zach Ward to the Minnesota Twins. The Dragons staked him to a 1-0 lead before he ever threw a pitch. Smit threw a multitude of pitches in the first inning walking two including the lead off man Mike DeJesus, whole stole second and moved to third on an infield single from Mike Griffin. Jay Bruce picked up his 70th runs batted in of the season with a sac fly to right field.
Beloit tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning on a two out RBI single by Toby Gardenhire scoring Edward Ovalle. Ovalle picked up the second Beloit hit on the night with one down in the frame with a double off the wall in left center field.
Smit was able to settle into a groove after an erratic first inning, striking out five Dragons in a row at one point. The southpaw struck out the side twice, in the second and fourth, and finished the game with 12 strike outs. Beloit gave Smit the lead with a pair of runs off Manuel in the fifth. Allen de San Miguel opened the inning with a double and was move to third on a sac bunt by Tarrance Patterson. With one down and the runner at third, Juan Portes picked up the RBI on a sac fly to right to give Beloit a 2-1 lead. Erik Lis picked up his third hit of the game off Manuel as he followed the sac fly with a solo homer to right center giving Beloit a 3-1 advantage.
Manuel was lifted after 5.0 innings of work allowing seven hits and three runs, all earned. The right hander struck out five and did not walk a batter on the night. Jose Rojas (ND) pitched 2.0 innings of relief for Dayton on the night and Sean Watson (ND) added a scoreless eighth against Beloit.
Dan Leatherman (SV, 1) pitched the final 3.0 innings of shutout baseball to pick up his first save of the season.
Dayton opens up a four game series at Fifth Third Field on Saturday night against the Burlington Bees. 1410 ESPN Radio WING AM will carry all the action live beginning with the Dragons Pre Game Show at 6:30 PM; Saturday's first pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM. RHP Carlos Fisher (8-5, 3.09 ERA) will make the start for Dayton. The Snappers will counter with RHP Matt Kniginyzky (8-3, 3.22 ERA). All Dragons games in 2006 can also be heard live on the internet at www.daytondragons.com.
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