Dragons fall to Captains

Dayton, Ohio (WDTN) - The Lake County Captains opened a 5-0 lead over the first three innings and cruised to an 8-3 victory over the Dayton Dragons on Monday night in the opener to a three-game series.  The Dragons fell to 0-4 in the second half before a crowd of 8,293 at Fifth Third Field.

Lake County collected 14 hits in a well-balanced attack.  Six players had two hits while three Captains pitchers combined to allow three unearned runs in the game.

The Dragons made a late attempt to get back within striking distance.  Trailing 7-0 in the bottom of the sixth, Dayton’s Ryan Wright doubled with one out and eventually scored on an RBI ground out by Nick O’Shea to make it 7-1.  In the seventh, Wright doubled with two outs to drive in two more runs and pull the Dragons to within four at 7-3.  But Dayton could not score again and Lake County added an unearned run in the ninth inning to close out the scoring.

Dragons starting pitcher Tanner Robles (4-5) worked the first five innings and suffered the loss.  He allowed eight hits and five runs (three earned) while walking two and striking out four.  Erik Miller worked the sixth inning, allowing two hits and two runs with a walk and two hit batsmen.  El’Hajj Muhammad replaced Miller and worked two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks with a strikeout.  Ryan Kemp worked the ninth, allowing an unearned run on two hits with a strikeout.

The Dragons finished with nine hits.  Wright went 3 for 4 with two doubles and two runs batted in.  He raised his batting average to .300 on the season and is 8 for 15 (.533) in the second half.  Juan Perez went 2 for 5 to extend his hitting streak to nine straight games.  Junior Arias was 1 for 5 and also extended his hitting streak to nine straight.

Dragons first baseman Sean Buckley was ejected from the game in the second inning after being called out on strikes.  Moments later, Dragons manager Delino DeShields was also ejected.   

The Dragons host the Captains on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in the second game of a three-game series.  Stalin Gerson (3-5, 4.64)will start for Dayton against Lake County’s Shawn Morimando (2-1, 3.98).  The series concludes Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.