August 13, 2012

Click Here to see the Box Score

Fort Wayne (R-H-E): 6-7-0
Dayton (R-H-E): 3-6-3

WP: James Jones (2-3)
LP: Stalin Gerson (6-8)
Sv: Matt Stites (12)

HR: Dayton: None
HR: Fort Wayne: None

Dayton, Ohio-The Fort Wayne TinCaps took advantage of three errors leading to five unearned runs as they avoided a series sweep and defeated the Dayton Dragons 6-3 on Monday. The loss snapped the Dragons three-game losing streak and dropped them to 21-27 in the second half. A crowd of 8,791 saw the game at Fifth Third Field.

Fort Wayne trailed 3-2 after five innings but rallied for three runs in the sixth to take the lead. The TinCaps tied the game on a throwing error by Dayton pitcher Stalin Gerson on a sacrifice bunt attempt. Dragons reliever Carlos Gonzalez replaced Gerson with the bases loaded and no one out and got a double play ball on the first pitch he threw with the lead runner out at the plate, leaving men at second and third with two outs. But Gonzalez uncorked back-to-back wild pitches to bring in the two runners as Fort Wayne took a 5-3 lead. The TinCaps added one more in the eighth to close out the scoring.

The Dragons knocked Fort Wayne starting pitcher Frank Garces out of the game after two innings. Garces, the Midwest League leader in earned run average, had allowed two runs or less in nine consecutive starts prior to Monday. But Fort Wayne relievers combined to throw seven scoreless innings to preserve the victory.

After Fort Wayne took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the Dragons answered with three in the second. Yorman Rodriguez singled to start the rally before a pair of walks to Kyle Waldrop and Juan Silva to load the bases with one out. Junior Arias fouled out to first for the second out, but Nick O'Shea launched a double high off the left-center field fence to drive in two. O'Shea missed a grand slam home run by inches. Juan Perez then singled to center field to drive in Silva and make it 3-1.

The Dragons loaded the bases in the fifth but did not score and then had only one base runner the remainder of the night.

Gerson (6-8) worked the first five innings for Dayton. He allowed six hits and five runs (only one earned) with two walks and four strikeouts and was charged with the loss. Carlos Gonzalez followed Gerson and logged one inning, allowing no hits or runs with one walk and two wild pitches. Lucas O'Rear pitched a perfect seventh inning and struck out two. Dan Jensen tossed two innings, allowing one hit and one unearned run with one walk and two strikeouts.

The Dragons picked up six hits by six different players. O'Shea's double was the only extra base hit.

The Dragons (21-27) do not play on Tuesday. They open an important three-game series at Fifth Third Field on Wednesday against the Lake County Captains (26-23) at 7:00 p.m. (WONE 980 AM). Jacob Johnson (1-4, 5.32) will start for Dayton against Lake County's Shawn Morimando (5-4, 3.73). Lake County currently leads the wildcard race, four and one-half games ahead of the Dragons with 20 games to play.