August 11, 2012

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Fort Wayne (R-H-E): 3-7-2
Dayton (R-H-E): 4-7-1

WP: Ryan Kemp (3-5)
LP: Luis De La Cruz (4-5)
Sv: Carlos Contreras (15)

HR: Dayton: None
HR: Fort Wayne: None

Dayton, Ohio-Kyle Waldrop's one-out, run-scoring single in the bottom of the eighth inning broke a 3-3 tie and lifted the Dayton Dragons to a 4-3 victory over the Fort Wayne TinCaps on Saturday night. The win, the Dragons' seventh in their last 10 games, came before a crowd of 8,823 at Fifth Third Field.

The Dragons battled back from an early 3-0 deficit to defeat the TinCaps, who entered the game tied for first place in the East Division. Fort Wayne built an early lead, scoring two runs in the second inning and one in the top of the third. The Dragons battled back in the bottom of the third. Yovan Gonzalez singled to right field with one out to give the Dragons their first hit of the night. Juan Perez followed with a hit to right to move Gonzalez to second. Jefry Sierra grounded out to second base as both runners advanced, and Joe Terry singled to the fence in right-center to bring in Gonzalez and Perez to make it 3-2.

The Dragons tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. Terry singled, stole second, and went to third on an error. With one out, Waldrop hit a high pop up into shallow center field that was caught by the second baseman, B.J. Guinn. Terry tagged and sprinted toward the plate. Guinn slipped as he planted his foot to throw home and Terry scored easily to make it a 3-3 game.

The game was still tied when the Dragons came to bat in the bottom of the eighth. Sierra singled with one out and went to second on an errant pick-off throw by the pitcher. Terry walked, and Yorman Rodriguez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Waldrop followed with a line drive base hit to right. Sierra scored on the play to break the tie, while Terry was thrown out at the plate attempting to score from second.

Carlos Contreras preserved the 4-3 lead with a perfect ninth inning to earn his 15th save.

Dragons starting pitcher James Allen worked six innings. He allowed five hits and three runs with no walks and five strikeouts and was not involved in the decision. Allen retired the last 11 batters he faced.

Ryan Kemp (3-5) replaced Allen to start the seventh and tossed two scoreless innings, allowing two hits with three strikeouts. Contreras struck out one of the three batters he faced in the ninth.

The Dragons picked up seven hits. Terry and Perez each had two. Perez's double was the team's only extra base hit. Terry is batting .417 over his last 10 games.

The Dragons (20-26) host the TinCaps (27-20) again on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. in the second game of a three-game series (WONE 980 AM). Robert Stephenson (2-0, 1.29), the Reds 2011 first round draft pick, will start for Dayton against Fort Wayne's Erik Cabrera (0-1, 9.00). Wes Mugarian will follow Stephenson to the mound for Dayton.

Notes: With 22 games to play, the Dragons are four games behind Lake County and South Bend in the race for the East Division wildcard slot.