Cerda Leads Dragons to Comeback Win, 6-5

Dragons 6, Quad Cities 5 (8 innings)

Click here for the box score

Dayton, Ohio—Allan Cerda lined a hit off the left field fence to bring in Elly De La Cruz from third base with the winning run as the Dayton Dragons erased a three-run deficit to defeat the Quad Cities River Bandits 6-5 on Thursday night. The game, scheduled for seven innings as the first game of a doubleheader, went eight innings. The second game was postponed by rain.

Cerda’s game-winning hit was the completion of a big night for the Dragons outfielder. He blasted a game-tying two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to put the Dragons in position to win.

Reds all-star Joey Votto played for the Dragons on an MLB injury rehab assignment, going 0 for 3 with one walk.

A crowd of 7,882 was in attendance at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District.

Friday game information: The Dragons and River Bandits will play a doubleheader on Friday night with the first game starting at 5:35 p.m. Gates will open at 5:00. Both games on Friday will be seven-inning games.

*Thursday Game Recap: *The Dragons fell behind 3-0 in the second inning and trailed 5-2 going to the bottom of the fifth. They scored once in the fifth to make it 5-3 before Cerda launched a two-out home run with a runner on base in the sixth to tie the score.

The game went to extra innings with the score still tied, 5-5. Dragons reliever Spencer Stockton worked out of a jam in the top of the eighth when Quad Cities had a runner at third with one out but could not score. In the bottom of the eighth, De La Cruz was at second base as the Dragons free runner to start the inning, and Jose Torres was given an intentional walk. Rece Hinds delivered an infield single that loaded the bases. With one out, Cerda lined a shot off the left field fence to bring in De La Cruz and end the game.

Cerda has hit four home runs in his last four games, going 8 for 15.

Stockton (3-0) was credited with the victory, tossing three scoreless innings and allowing just one hit with no hits and four strikeouts.

The Dragons improved to 23-11 on the season while remaining in first place, three games ahead of Great Lakes.

Up Next: The Dragons host Quad Cities in a doubleheader on Friday at 5:35 p.m at Day Air Ballpark. Thomas Farr (0-1, 6.08) and Connor Phillips (2-2, 3.30) will be the starting pitchers for Dayton. For ticket information, 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.

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