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MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Wizards tame Dragons 12-7

June 23, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Fort Wayne, IN- Despite what everyone tells you, it isn't always how you start or how you finish. In the Dayton Dragons (1-0, 31-40) case on Thursday night against the Fort Wayne Wizards (0-1, 38-33) it was what the Miami Valley's team did in the middle that made the difference. Dayton picked up nine runs and 10 hits over the fifth and sixth innings to drop Fort Wayne 12-7 in the opening game of a four game series at Memorial Stadium.

Dayton centerfielder Cody Strait paced the Dragons 14 hit attack by going 2-4 with a season high five runs batted in. Strait picked up a two RBI single in the top of the fifth inning that tied the ball game up at 3-3. Dayton picked up six runs on six hits in the top of the fifth to overcome a 3-0 Fort Wayne lead. After Strait's two RBI tied the game, Drew Anderson gave the visitors a 5-3 lead with a two out two RBI double to center field.

Every Dragons starter picked up at least one hit on the night and two of the Dayton hits completely left Memorial Stadium flying out of park onto Coliseum Boulevard beyond the left field wall. Strait hammered a Chris Steinborn (ND) offering in a three run sixth giving Dayton a 9-3 lead and Bradley Key matched Strait's blast with a three run shot of his own in the seventh to give Dayton a 12-3 lead.

The hitting stars of the night for the Dragons were the seven, eight and nine hitters. The lower third of the line up; Key (2-3, HR, 3 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB), Trevor Lawhorn (3-5, 2 R) and Strait (2-5, HR, 5 RBI, 1 R) combined to go 7-13 (.538) on the night with two HR, eight RBI and six runs scored.

Ramon Ramirez (ND) struggled in the starter's role for Dayton to open the second half of the season allowing a Wizards run in the second inning and two more in the third giving Fort Wayne a 3-0 lead. Ramirez battled and got through 3.0 innings, allowing four hits and three runs, all earned. Ramirez struck out four and walked three in picking up the no decision.

Michael Ekstrom (LP, 9-2) was 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA with 5.0 shutout innings against the Dragons in '05. He blanked Dayton in the first four innings allowing only an infield single to Lawhorn in the third. It all went down hill for the right hander in the fifth inning as Dayton touched him up for six earned runs. Ekstrom was lifted after 4.2 innings surrendering seven hits and six runs, all earned. He struck out three and did not allow a walk in taking the loss.

As productive as the Dragons hitter were in Fort Wayne on Thursday, the bullpen came to play as well. Alexander Farfan (WP 2-5) was perfect in 2.0 innings retiring all six hitters he faced. James Morrison (ND) added 3.0 innings of two hit baseball. Morrison gave up a pair of runs that closed the Wizards to within 12-5 in the seventh, but both were unearned. The newest Dragons arm, Brad Cherry (ND) blanked Fort Wayne in the ninth inning to squash any hopes of a big Wizards comeback.

The Dragons and Wizards continue the four game series at Memorial Stadium on Friday night. 1410 ESPN Radio WING AM carries the game live, beginning with the pre game show at 7:30 PM. Friday's first pitch is 8:00 PM. RHP Homer Bailey gets the start for the Dragons, while Fort Wayne will counter with RHP Clayton Hamilton.

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Midwest League Stories from June 23, 2005


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