Dragons comeback sweeps Whitecaps
DAYTON, OH - For the second straight game, the Dayton Dragons pulled off a late rally to defeat the West Michigan Whitecaps 3-2 Sunday at Fifth Third Field.
The Whitecaps scored early when Joey Pankake ripped an RBI-single to right field to give West Michigan a 1-0 lead. In the fourth, Pankake started the inning with a double, and scored on Franklin Navarro's RBI-single to give West Michigan a 2-0 lead. Dayton would answer in the bottom of the inning when Jimmy Pickens scored on an infield single by shortstop Luis Gonzalez. The Dragons took the lead in the seventh, when second baseman Wendell Soto bounced an RBI-double into the left-field corner, and scored on a run-scoring single from Avain Rachal.
West Michigan reliever Gabe Speier (0-1) allowed two runs to score in the seventh in suffering his first loss of the season. Dragons starter Tyler Mahle (2-1) earned his second win after going seven innings and striking out eight in the contest. Dayton closer Brian Hunter struck out the side in the ninth, recording his second save of the season.
FLIPPING PANKAKE
Pankake was dropped to the cleanup spot in the order after spending most of the season hitting leadoff or second, and had two hits in the ballgame.
UP NEXT
West Michigan opens a three-game series at Fifth Third Ballpark against the South Bend Cubs beginning Tuesday at 6:35pm. Pitcher Ross Seaton starts for the Whitecaps against the Cubs' Jake Stinnet. Season, group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps' front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com. If you can't make it to the ballpark, radio coverage begins at 6:25p.m. on the Whitecaps Radio Network.