Captains Erase 4-0 Deficit, Edge Dragons 5-4

Eastlake, Ohio-The Lake County Captains erased a 4-0 deficit on the way to defeating the Dayton Dragons 5-4 on Monday night in the first game of a three-game series at Classic Park.

The Dragons built a 4-0 lead over their first five turns at the plate, getting one run in the first inning and three more in the fifth. But Lake County responded with one run in the bottom of the fifth, another in the sixth and two more in the seventh to tie the game at 4-4. The Captains broke the tie in the eighth on a two-out run-scoring single by Wilbis Santiago to take the lead.
The Dragons threatened in the ninth with two outs when Reniel Ozuna reached on an error and went to second on a hit to left by Jonathan Willems. But Mariel Bautista popped out softly to shortstop to end the game.
Dragons starting pitcher Jhon De Jesus worked the first four and two-thirds innings, allowing one run on three hits with two walks and four strikeouts, throwing just 73 pitches as he recorded his third strong outing in four starts. But the Dayton bullpen had a rough night, combining to allow eight hits and four runs in three and one-third innings.
Bautista opened the game with a long home run to left field, his fourth of the year, to start the scoring. In the fifth, Ozuna lined a homer to left, his first with the Dragons, to make it 2-0. After Willems doubled, Bautista singled to bring in another run. After Bautista was thrown out attempting to steal, the next three Dayton batters delivered base hits. Pabel Manzanero's single drove in Miguel Hernandez to make it 4-0.
Dragons reliever Adrian Rodriguez allowed two runs in the seventh and was charged with a blown save. Andy Cox (0-1) surrendered the tie-breaking run in the eighth to take the loss.
 
Up Next: The Dragons (6-11) meet the Captains (11-6) again on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. in the second game of the three-game series in Eastlake. James Marinan (0-1, 3.95) will start for Dayton against Lake County's Juan Mota (0-2, 7.71). The next home game for the Dragons is Thursday, April 25 at 7:00 p.m. against the Great Lakes Loons.
On the Air: All Dragons games are broadcast on radio on Fox Sports 980 WONE AM. 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.   All Saturday and Sunday home games are televised on Dayton's CW (channel 26; Spectrum cable channels 13 and 1013).
For Dragons 2019 ticket information, call (937) 228-2287.