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MWL1 Dayton Dragons

The Juan that got away

August 26, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, Ohio - Dayton Dragons (54-76, 24-36) starter Juan Frias' (ND) exceptional performance on the mound was wasted in a Beloit Snappers (64-66, 31-29) six-run comeback, as the Dragons dropped the second game of a four-game series in a heartbreaking 6-2 loss to Beloit, before a sellout crowd of 7,944 at Fifth Third Field on Friday night.

The Dragons, who had baffled Beloit all night long in Thursday's win, kept the Snappers in a daze as Frias and reliever Jon George (ND) shutout Beloit through six innings to preserve a precarious 2-0 lead, stretching Frias' shutout string to 17 consecutive innings. The Snappers then erased the Dragons lead on one swing when Steven Tolleson connected for a game-tying two-run homer off reliever James Avery (L, 1-1) in the seventh. Javier Sanchez then gave Beloit their first cushion of the entire series on a two-run double in the eighth for a 4-2 lead.

Beloit then put the game out-of-reach in the ninth when Deacon Burns jolted a two-run homer in the ninth of Zac Stott (ND), paving the way for J.P. Martinez's (SV, 20) two-inning, shutout save effort.

The Dragons had a tight grip on the game early, racing ahead for a 2-0 lead with single runs in the first and second inning. Jeremiah Piepkorn whacked a first-inning RBI double down the right field line to begin the scoring, followed by Jorge Mejia's triple into the same spot, scoring Trevor Lawhorn from third for a two-run advantage.

It was at that point where Beloit starter Eduardo Morlan (ND) settled down and went toe-to-toe with Frias, eventually taken off-the-hook with Beloit's comeback. Morlan turned his erratic first two innings around for a stellar, six-inning performance, scattering five hits, two runs, two walks and five strikeouts in the process.

After Jorge Mejia's bunt single in the fourth, the Dragons didn't record a hit for the rest of the night. Kevin Culpepper (W, 7-6) filled Morlan and Martinez's efforts with one inning of shutout relief, retiring all three hitters faced in the eighth after surrendering a leadoff walk to Tonys Gutierrez.

Mejia, after receiving the night off in Thursday night's game, came back to lead the Dragons offense with a 2-for-4 night at the plate with the RBI. Sanchez did the most damage for the Snappers offensively, going 2-for-4 with two RBI's and a run scored.

The Dragons and Snappers continue the four game set on Saturday night at Fifth Third Field with a 7pm first pitch. Righty Aaron Garrison gets the ball for Dayton while the Snappers will give the ball to lefty Kyle Aselton. The game can be heard on radio at ESPN Radio 1410-AM and on the internet at www.daytondragons.com, with the pre-game show beginning at 6:30 pm.

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Midwest League Stories from August 26, 2005


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