Dragons GameDay

Sunday, August 17, 2014; Game # 123 (55)

Fifth Third Field; Dayton, Ohio; 2:00 p.m.

Radio: WONE-AM 980

 

Bowling Green Hot Rods (24-30, 56-67) at Dayton Dragons (27-27, 63-59)

RH Isaac Gil (0-1, 5.40) vs. RH Nick Howard (1-0, 3.29)

Click here to view the entire Dragons Press Box Notes packet.

Today's Game: The Dayton Dragons (affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds) meet the Bowling Green Hot Rods (affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays) in the second game of a three-game series. Season Series: Dayton 12, Bowling Green 3 (at Dayton: Dragons 5, Hot Rods 0).

The Race: With 16 games to play, the Dragons lead Great Lakes by one game in the race for the East Division Second Half wildcard slot (#2 seed). The Dragons lead Bowling Green, Fort Wayne, and Lansing by three games. The Dragons are one-half game behind #1 seed Lake County.

Today's Dragons Starting Pitcher: Nick Howard makes his second professional career start tonight after six appearances out of the Dayton bullpen. He was the Reds #1 draft pick in 2014 (19th overall selection) after serving as the closer this spring at the University of Virginia, where he broke the all-time Atlantic Coast Conference single-season saves record with 20 and helped his team to the final game of College World Series and a #2 final national ranking. 

Individual Notes

• Alex Blandino has hit safely in 11 straight games, batting .421 with eight RBI.
• Ronald Bueno has hit safely in eight straight games, going 12 for 29 (.414).
• Jose Ortiz is 8 for 17 (.471) with two home runs and six RBI in his last five games.
• Alejandro Chacin in July-August: 18 G: 21.2 IP, 1 R, 33 SO, 0.41 ERA, 13 Sv. He has not allowed a run over his last 12 outings (last run: July 16).

Team Notes

• The Dragons have 11 shutout wins this season including six at Fifth Third Field. This marks the third highest total in club history (14 in 2011).
• The Dragons current team ERA of 3.48 would rank third best in club history over a full season.

Upcoming Probable Pitchers (All game times are EDT) (All games on WONE 980 AM and WONE.com)

Monday, August 18 (7:05 p.m.): Dayton LH Amir Garrett (7-6, 3.22) at South Bend TBA

Tuesday, August 19 (7:05 p.m.): Dayton RH Sal Romano (7-10, 4.13) at South Bend TBA

Wednesday, August 20 (7:05 p.m.): Dayton RH Nick Travieso (11-5, 3.17) at South Bend TBA