MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Whitecaps Avoid Sweep, Top Dragons 5-2

Published on May 24, 2013 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, Ohio.-West Michigan's Zach Kirksey hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning to lead the Whitecaps to a 5-2 victory over the Dayton Dragons on Friday night. The win allowed West Michigan to avoid a sweep of the three-game series as they handed the Dragons only their second loss in the last eight games.

Kirksey's home run broke a 0-0 tie with two outs in the fifth. West Michigan added another run in the top of the sixth to extend their lead to 4-0. The Dragons cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the sixth as Beau Amaral and Joe Terry started the inning with base hits, and Jesse Winker lined a single to center to drive in Amaral. Terry eventually scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-2.

In the seventh, the Dragons threatened again. Tanner Rahier led off the inning with a base hit and with one out, Nick O'Shea sent a long drive toward right-center field. But West Michigan right fielder Jake Stewart made a leaping, tumbling catch of the ball for the second out as he robbed O'Shea of an extra base hit. The next two Dragons batters, Zach Vincej and Beau Amaral, picked up singles to load the bases with two outs, but Terry grounded out to second to end the inning. West Michigan closed out the scoring with a run in the eighth. The Dragons did not have a base runner in the eighth or ninth innings.

Dragons starting pitcher Sal Romano (4-4) tossed five and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts to suffer the loss. He did not allow a hit until the fifth inning. Austin Salter followed Romano and worked two and one-third innings, allowing three hits and one run with a walk and three strikeouts. Jesus Adames tossed a scoreless ninth inning, allowing one hit with two strikeouts.

The Dragons fell to 19-28 with the loss while West Michigan improved to 21-24.

The Dragons collected eight hits. Beau Amaral and Tanner Rahier each had two.

The Dragons travel to Midland, Michigan to take on the Great Lakes Loons on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. in the first game of a three-game series. Robert Stephenson (3-3, 4.02) will start for Dayton against Great Lakes' Carlos Frias (4-1, 1.54). All Dragons games can be heard on WONE Radio (980 AM) and via the internet at daytondragons.com and wone.com.

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Midwest League Stories from May 24, 2013


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