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MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Welcome to Fifth Third Field, B.J. Szymanski

June 7, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, OH - B.J. Szymanski hadn't played a home game for the Dayton Dragons (25-33) coming into Tuesday's game with the Burlington Bees (26-31), and he made up for lost time. In his Fifth Third Field debut, Szymanski went 2-3, picking up two home runs and four RBI - propelling the Dragons to a 7-3 win on getaway day in front of 7,959 in downtown Dayton.

Both starters treated the fans to a pitcher's duel through the early innings; Dragons starter Camilo Vasquez (ND) struck out six batters and allowed just three Bees hits through 5.0 innings of work. Bees starting pitcher Danny Christensen (ND) followed suit, throwing 5.0 innings and surrendered just two Dragons hits. He finished with four strikeouts and three walks.

In the Burlington sixth inning, the Bees were able to break the scoreless tie; Irving Falu led the inning off with a single to left field then moved to third base on a Gerald Valentin single. Falu then came home on the fielders choice to give the Bees a 1-0 lead. Just as the both pitchers were able to keep it even through the early innings, the Dragons bats were able to keep the game close in their half of the sixth off of Burlington reliever Yovany Damico (L, 0-2). Following a one out triple by Drew Anderson, Szymanski gave the Dragons the lead by smashing a two-run homer to right-center field, making it 2-1 Dragons through 6.0 innings.

Each team traded scoreless seventh innings, but the Miami Valley's team exploded in their half of the eighth inning as the struggles continued Damico; Number nine batter Trevor Lawhorn hit a lead off double and came home to score on another two-bagger by Phil Gentry. Damico was then lifted in place of Rusty Begnaud (ND) who did not fair much better. Anderson picked up an RBI single to center, and then Szymanski hit his second two-run homer in as many at bats, giving the Dragons a 6-1 advantage. Jeremiah Piepkorn followed with a solo blast of his own to left-center field, extending the Dayton lead to 7-1.

After taking over pitching duties one out deep in the sixth inning, Dragons reliever Brad Morenko (W, 6-1) stifled the Bees hitters the rest of the way, holding the visitors hitless until the ninth inning, when Burlington picked up two runs on an Eddie Solis home run. The round-tripper, and the single that preceded it, were the only hits that Morenko allowed in his 3.2 inning stint.

The Dragons now embark on a seven game road trip beginning at Oldsmobile Park in Lansing, Michigan. After a Wednesday off day, the Dragons and Lugnuts begin their four game series on Thursday night with a 7:05 PM first pitch. 1410 ESPN Radio carries the game live with the pre game show beginning at 6:30 PM. LHP Philippe Valiquette will start for the Dragons while RHP Russ Savickas gets the ball for Lansing in the series opener.

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Midwest League Stories from June 7, 2005


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