MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Yankees Whip Up on Dragons 13-2

Published on August 31, 2004 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, OH – The Battle Creek Yankees (35-29, 68-65) handed the Dayton Dragons (18-46, 45-89) its fourth consecutive loss and kept itself right in the middle of the second half playoff race in the Eastern Division with a one sided 13-2 thrashing of the Miami Valley's team in front of 8,037 fans at Fifth Third Field on Tuesday night.

Battle Creek jumped out in front in the first inning on a two run homer to left off the bat of Erold Andrus for his 12th home run of the season and never trailed, picking up 15 hits on the night off of four Dragons pitchers, including first baseman John Purdom (ND) who became the second position player in as many night for Dayton to throw in the series.

Joe Wilson (L, 0-3) lasted 5.0 innings allowing four runs, two of which were earned, on five hits with three strikeouts and one walk. The Yankees took a 2-1 lead into the third against Wilson and a botched double play ball kept the inning alive for Jason Van Meetren to score two runs on a SAC fly to center field for a 4-1 lead.

The Yankees plated three more in the sixth, for a 7-1 lead, off Trey Rice (ND) on a RBI ground out from Tommy Rojas and a two RBI single from Hector Made. The seventh inning saw three more runs come home off Brock Till (ND). All the runs against Till came with two outs as two hits and four walks put six consecutive hitters on base. A RBI double by Willie Vasquez, a bases loaded walk to Nick Walsh and a RBI single by Made ran the lead to 10-1.

Out of necessity, the Dragons were forced to use a position player on the mound for the second consecutive night against the Yankees. Will Hudson threw 1.0 innings in Monday's 8-5 Dayton loss and Purdom came in from first base on Tuesday night and threw 2.0 innings to bail out a depleted Dayton bullpen. In the eighth and ninth, Purdom, a catcher by trade, allowed 5.0 hits and three runs allowing RBI hits in the eighth to Luis Robles and Enrique Cruz. Van Meetren added another SAC fly in the ninth to run the advantage to 13-1.

One bright spot for the Dragons offensively for the second consecutive night was Ben Himes. Himes, who drove in three on Monday with his 10th homer of the season, plated both Dayton runs on the night with a RBI single in the first inning and a RBI double in the ninth. Both hits plated Luis Bolivar who picked up three hits on the night for the Miami Valley's team.

Jason Jones (W, 2-1) got more than enough offensive support to pick up the win and helped out his own cause with 6.0 solid innings on the hill. The right hander scattered seven hits on the night with five strikeouts and one walk. Heath Castle (ND), Mike Gardner (ND) and Paul Thorp (ND) each threw an inning out of the Battle Creek pen to close out the final three innings of the game.

The Dragons and Yankees continue the four game series at Fifth Third Field on Wednesday night with the second game of the series ESPN Radio 1410 Wing AM will carry the game live beginning with the pre game show at 6:30 PM. The first pitch on Wednesday is scheduled for 7:05 PM. RHP Justin Mallet will get the start for Dayton, while Battle Creek is scheduled to send RHP Tyler Clippard to the mound.

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Midwest League Stories from August 31, 2004


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