MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Wizards Use Big Inning to Take Down Dragons

Published on May 19, 2006 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, OH - The Fort Wayne Wizards (21-18) scored six times in the top of the fifth inning on their way to a 9-4 victory over the Dayton Dragons (22-20) in the series finale in front of 8,796 fans at Fifth Third Field on Friday night. With the victory, the two teams split the four game series, and the Wizards take the lead in the season series fives game to two.

Fort Wayne would strike first off Dragons starter Philippe Valiquette (LP, 1-3) with two runs in the top of the first. Seth Johnston reached on a fielder's choice, then stole second with one out. Nic Crosta drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single to right-center, and came around to score the second run on a double from Kyle Blanks.

The Dragons answered in the bottom of the second inning off Fabian Jiminez (WP, 4-2). BJ Szymanski led the inning off with a walk, and advanced to second on a single by Habelito Hernandez. The double steal worked successfully to advance the runners to second and third, and Szymanski scored when catcher Nick Hundley's throw went into left field. Hernandez advanced to third on the error, and later scored on Chris Denove's sacrifice fly to even the score at 2-2. Dayton took the lead in the fourth inning when J.D. Reininger's RBI single scored Hernandez to put the Miami Valley's team on top 3-2.

Then came the top of the fifth. With one out, Mike Sansoe reached on a two-base fielding error by Dragons right fielder Jay Bruce. Johnston and pinch hitter Mike Baxter had RBI singles sandwiched around a walk to Crosta, and quickly Fort Wayne was back on top 4-3. That would spell the end of the night for Valiquette. Kyle Huddy (ND) came in and struck Will Venable out for the second out of the inning, but then the wheels fell off. Daryl Jones ripped a two-RBI double to put the Wizards up 6-3. After a walk to Hundley, Steiner had an RBI single to give Fort Wayne a four-run lead. Jesus Lopez and Mike Sansoe drew back-to-back walks, the latter of which forced in a run to make the score 8-3. Finally, Logan Ondrusek (ND) entered the game for the Dragons, and induced a lazy foul pop to the catcher to end the inning.

When it was all said and down, Fort Wayne had sent 12 men to the plate in the fifth inning. The Wizards had six runs, four hits, four walks, and the Dragons committed two errors in the inning. Of the six runs that scored, only one was charged as an earned run.

Valiquette was charged with six runs (three earned) in his 4.1 innings. Huddy was hit for two runs, but none were earned in 0.1 innings. Ondrusek would pitch a scoreless sixth and seventh, and finished the night with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief pitching. Damian Ursin (ND) allowed the final run of the night, a home run to Crosta in the top of the eighth.

For the Wizards, Jiminez would end up pitching 7.0 innings, allowing three runs (two earned), on four hits, with five strikeouts and two walks. Brandon Higeline (ND) was charged with an unearned run in 0.2 innings, while Mark Roberts (ND) and John Madden (ND) closed out the game for the Wizards.

The Dragons head back out on the road for the next 12 games, starting with a four games series at the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays. The series opener will be at 6:35 p.m. Saturday with RHP Jeff Stevens (2-2, 4.34 ERA) getting the nod for the Dragons while the Devil Rays counter with LHP Jake McGee (3-5, 3.12 ERA). 1410 ESPN Radio WING AM will carry the game live beginning with the Dragons magazine at 5:30 p.m., followed by the pre game show at 6:00 PM. All Dragons games in 2006 can also be heard live on the internet at www.daytondragons.com.

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Midwest League Stories from May 19, 2006


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