Chiefs Build Early Lead, Top Dragons 8-3
Peoria 8, Dragons 3 Click here for the box score Peoria (R-H-E): 8-10-0; Dayton (R-H-E): 3-4-2 Win: Dionys Rodriguez (3-10); Loss: Miguel Medrano (1-4); Save: None HR: Dayton: None; HR: Peoria: Todd Lott (9th, 0 on base in first inning); Jacob Buchberger (4th, 1 on base in third inning). Dayton,
Peoria 8, Dragons 3
Click here for the box score
Peoria (R-H-E): 8-10-0; Dayton (R-H-E): 3-4-2
Win: Dionys Rodriguez (3-10); Loss: Miguel Medrano (1-4); Save: None
HR: Dayton: None; HR: Peoria: Todd Lott (9th, 0 on base in first inning); Jacob Buchberger (4th, 1 on base in third inning).
Dayton, Ohio—The Peoria Chiefs built a 6-0 lead over the first three innings and held on to defeat the Dayton Dragons 8-3 on Tuesday night in the opener to a six-game series.
A crowd of 7,846 was in attendance at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District.
The Dragons fell to 9-20 in the second half (48-47 overall). Peoria improved to 14-17 in the second half (42-55 overall).
Game Recap: Peoria’s Todd Lott opened the game with a home run to center field, and the Chiefs added two more in the first inning, one in the second, and two in the third to build a 6-0 lead.
The Dragons scored in the bottom of the third when Justice Thompson walked, stole second, and scored on Tyler Callihan’s double to make it 6-1. But Peoria responded with two more runs in the top of the fourth to increase their lead to 8-1.
The Dragons got back-to-back doubles from Jose Torres and Thompson to produce a run in the fifth. Thompson eventually scored in the same inning on an RBI ground out by Quincy McAfee to make it 8-3.
The Dragons had a chance to close the gap in the sixth when they loaded the bases with one out on a single by Brian Rey and a pair of walks to Austin Hendrick and Mat Nelson, but Peoria reliever Gianluca Dalatri entered the game and got Torres to pop out and Thompson to ground out to end the threat. The Dragons did not have a base runner over the final three innings.
The Dragons finished the day with just four hits. Callihan, Torres, and Thompson all had doubles.
Dragons starting pitcher Miguel Medrano (1-4) was charged with the loss. He allowed eight runs (six earned) in four innings, giving up six hits and three walks with three strikeouts. The eight runs allowed by Medrano were the most by a Dragons pitcher in 2022.
The Dragons bullpen was a bright spot, combining for five scoreless innings. Myles Gayman followed Medrano and went a season-high four innings, allowing three hits with no walks and four strikeouts. Dragons relievers have not allowed a run over the last 19.2 innings.
Notes: Shortstop Noelvi Marte made his debut in the Reds organization after being acquired as a key piece in the trade with Seattle that sent major league all-star Luis Castillo to the Mariners. Marte, ranked as the Reds #1 prospect by MLB.com, went 0 for 4 while batting in the cleanup spot in the batting order…Dayton’s Brian Rey, who left the game on Sunday after being struck by a pitch in the elbow, was back in the lineup for the Dragons and went 1 for 4.
Up Next: The Dragons are back at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. in the second game of the series with Peoria (St. Louis Cardinals affiliate). Christian Roa (3-3, 4.20) will start for Dayton against Peoria’s Inohan Paniagua (0-0, 0.00).
For ticket information, go daytondragons.com/tickets 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.