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Dayton Dragons

Dragons bats sputter in double header sweep

August 29, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


South Bend, IN - The Dayton Dragons (30-33, 65-67) playoff chances took a near fatal hit at the hands of the South Bend Silver Hawks (39-24, 71-57) on Tuesday night at Coveleski Stadium. South Bend swept a double header from the Dragons winning the opening game 1-0 and the night cap 2-1, as Dayton could manage on one run in the 14 innings of action on the night. With a first game win by Fort Wayne in a double header over Clinton, the Dragons have dropped to five games behind the Wizards in the chase for the wild card spot in the Eastern Division with seven games to play.

In the first game of the double header, The Silver Hawks ran Vincent Bongiovanni (WP, 7-2) out to the hill. In three prior appearances against the Dragons, the right hander was 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA. Dayton had managed only one hit off Bongiovanni in 21 at bats, good for a .048 average. It would be more of the same as the Dragons would only pick up two hits off the right hander on the game as he tossed a complete game shutout. Eric Eymann led off the fourth inning with a double and was eventually thrown out at home plate. Habelito Hernandez picked up an infield single in the top of the seventh inning for the only other Dayton hit on the night. Bongiovanni struck out six and walked on the night in picking up his seventh win of the season. With the dominant performance on Tuesday night, Dayton is now hitting .068 (3-44) against the right hander.

The lone Silver Hawks run off Dayton starter Daniel Guerrero (LP, 4-5) was picked up in the bottom of the third inning on a one out triple by Leyson Septimo and a sac fly by Ricardo Sosa. Guerrero certainly deserved a better fate than the loss as he pitched well enough on to pick up a win on almost any other night. The right hander retired the final 10 South Bend hitter's he faced in going the distance with five strikeouts and three walks.

Game two was one of missed opportunities for the Dragons who had two golden opportunities to pick up runs but were not able to get the clutch hit. South Bend jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning off new Dragons pitcher Luis Montano (ND). Septimo picked up a one out single, stole second base and came home on Justin Upton's RBI double to center for the early lead.

The Dragons came back off Forrest Cory (ND) to tie the game up at 1-1 in the fourth, loading the bases with one down on two singles and an infield error. With one out and the sacks full of Dragons Mike DeJesus struck out for the second out of the inning. Eymann came through again delivering a two out RBI single to left scoring Bradley Key, who picked up a one out hit. Gerardo Cabrera was waived around from second base as the Dragons attempted to take a 2-1 lead but was gunned down by Hawks left fielder Will Crouch who made a perfect throw to the plate to cut down the go ahead run.

Sean Watson (LP, 1-1) gave up the go ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning as South Bend grabbed the 2-1 lead. With one down, Watson hit Sosa with a pitch to put the go ahead run on first. Sosa stole second and would come around to score on a two out single to left by Orlando Mercado.

Kyler Newby (SV, 11) had a shaky top of the seventh, as Key led off the inning with a double. Cabrera laid down a sac bunt and moved the tying run to third base with one down in the inning. Pinch hitter Craig Tatum stuck out for the second out of the inning and DeJesus grounded out to short stop as Newby preserved the win for Enmanuel Duran (WP, 2-3) who tossed a scoreless sixth inning.

The Dragons and Silver Hawks continue the five game series at Coveleski Stadium on Wednesday night with a second straight double header. 1410 ESPN Radio WING AM will carry all the twin bill live beginning with the Dragons Pre Game Show at 5:30 PM. Wednesday first pitch is scheduled for 6:00 PM, with the Dragons sending LHP Travis Wood (9-4, 3.97 ERA) to the hill in game one. Rainer Feliz (1-0, 5.61 ERA) will get his first start of the season for Dayton in the second game of the double header. South Bend will counter with LHP Ryan Schreppel (6-12, 5.11 ERA) in game one and RHP Donald Julio (3-1, 2.63 ERA) in game two. All Dragons games in 2006 can also be heard live on the internet at www.daytondragons.com.

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