Lugnuts Defeat Dragons 6-2 on Sunday

Lansing 6, Dragons 2

Click here for the box score

Click here for the game log

Dayton, Ohio-Lansing's Jason Leblebijian went 4 for 4 with a two-run home run as the Lugnuts defeated the Dayton Dragons 6-2 on Sunday afternoon. A crowd of 7,948 attended the game at Fifth Third Field.

The two clubs have split the first two games of the series. The final game of the set, and last game of the season, is Monday at 2:00 p.m.

The Dragons and Lugnuts were tied 1-1 through six innings before Lansing broke through with three runs in the seventh against Dragons reliever Junior Morillo. Leblebijian belted a two-out, two-run home run in the inning, his ninth homer of the year, as Lansing jumped out to a 4-1 lead.

Dayton's Narciso Crook blasted his team-leading ninth home run of the season in the bottom of the seventh to pull the Dragons back within two runs at 4-2. In the eighth, the Dragons put the tying run on base after a single by Jon Matthews and a two-out walk to Gavin LaValley, but Lansing reliever Jose Fernandez entered the game to strike out Avain Rachal and end the threat. Lansing then scored two unearned runs in the top of the ninth to close out the scoring.

Dayton starting pitcher Tejay Antone pitched well in his final start and was not involved in the decision. He worked six innings, allowing one run on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Antone lowered his earned run average to 2.91.

The Dragons finished with six hits. Crook led the way with two hits including the home run and two runs batted in. Matthews also had two hits. Rachal had a double.   

The Dragons (31-37 in the second half; 70-68 overall) close out the season when they battle the Lugnuts (31-37, 73-65) on Monday at 2:00 p.m. Jake Paulson (8-5, 2.60) will start for Dayton against Lansing's Chase Mallard (6-7, 5.29).  

All Dragons games are broadcast on radio on Fox Sports 980 WONE and on the internet at wone.com. Games are also available on the Dayton Dragons mobile app.

Notes: Antone induced his 26th ground ball double play of the season in the fourth inning. The total is believed to lead all of Major League and Minor League baseball.