Bandits Edge Dragons 2-1 on Tuesday to Capture Midwest League Title
QUAD CITIES 2, DRAGONS 1 Click here for the box score Quad Cities (R-H-E): 2-5-1; Dayton (R-H-E): 1-7-0 Win: Dash Albus (2-0); Loss: Victor Diaz (0-1); Save: J.P. Langevin (2) HR: Dayton: None HR: Quad Cities: Blake Mitchell (1st, 1 on base in eighth inning). Dayton, Ohio—Blake Mitchell hit a
QUAD CITIES 2, DRAGONS 1
Click here for the box score
Quad Cities (R-H-E): 2-5-1; Dayton (R-H-E): 1-7-0
Win: Dash Albus (2-0); Loss: Victor Diaz (0-1); Save: J.P. Langevin (2)
HR: Dayton: None HR: Quad Cities: Blake Mitchell (1st, 1 on base in eighth inning).
Dayton, Ohio—Blake Mitchell hit a two-run home run with two outs in the eighth inning to lift the Quad Cities River Bandits to a 2-1 victory over the Dayton Dragons in game two of the Midwest League Championship Series on Tuesday night.
An enthusiastic crowd of 8,104 was on hand at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District.
The loss ended the Dragons season as the River Bandits claimed their ninth Midwest League championship and their second in six seasons as a Kansas City Royals farm club. The Dragons 2026 season included their first-ever trip to the MWL championship series after winning the semi-final round of the playoffs last week against the Great Lakes Loons. The Dragons ended the regular season with a record of 67-63, earning a spot in the playoffs by virtue of winning the First Half East Division title, when they went 39-27.
The Dragons lead all Minor League Baseball (120 teams) in attendance average at 7,863 per home opening, with one week to go in the season for teams at the Triple-A level. They are one of only three teams in the nation to have topped 500,000 in home attendance this season.
Recap: The game was scoreless until the seventh inning when the Dragons took a brief 1-0 lead. With one out in the seventh, Damian Ruiz lined a triple to left-center field, and Kyle Henley followed with a double down the right field line to drive in Ruiz and give Dayton a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the eighth, Quad Cities advanced a runner to third base with two outs when Blake Mitchell connected on a home run to right field to give the River Bandits a 2-1 lead.
The Dragons had a mild threat in the bottom of the eighth inning when Kien Vu singled with two outs and went to second on a wild pitch, but Johnny Ascanio grounded out to second base to end the inning.
The Dragons had opportunities early in the game to take the lead but came up empty. In the third inning, they loaded the bases with no outs when Ruiz singled, Henley walked, and Justin Lebron was hit by a pitch. But Ty Doucette and John Michael Faile both struck out, and Ryan McCrystal grounded out to end the threat.
Dragons starting pitcher Kyle McCoy worked four scoreless innings, just as he did in the Dragons playoff win last Thursday against Great Lakes. McCoy gave up only two hits. Jose Montero followed McCoy and tossed two scoreless innings. Diaz pitched a scoreless seventh inning before surrendering the home run to Mitchell with two outs in the eighth.
The Dragons finished the night with seven hits including two by Ruiz. Quad Cities collected just five hits.
Up Next: The Dragons will open their 27th season in the Midwest League on April 2, 2027. For information on season tickets and ground outings, go to daytondragons.com or call (937) 228-2287.
On the Air: All Dragons home and road games are broadcast on radio on FOX Sports 980 AM WONE. Games can be heard on smart phones, iPads, and other mobile devices via the free Dragons Mobile App, or on a computer at wone.com. Games are also available on HD Radio on 104.7 WTUI HD 2.