Dragons Battle Back to Force Extra Innings but Fall to Peoria, 6-3

Peoria 6, Dragons 3 (10 innings)

Click here for the box score

Peoria (R-H-E): 6-7-0; Dayton (R-H-E): 3-8-0

Win: Leonardo Taveras (3-0); Loss: Dennis Boatman (0-1); Save: None

HR: Dayton: None; HR: Peoria: Mack Chambers (4th, 1 on base in fifth inning).

Dayton, Ohio—The Peoria Chiefs scored three runs in the top of the 10th inning to break a 3-3 tie and went on to defeat the Dayton Dragons 6-3 on Friday night. The Dragons and Chiefs have split the first four games of the six-game series.

A crowd of 8,050 was in attendance at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District.

The loss dropped the Dragons to 11-21 in the second half (50-48 overall). Peoria improved to 15-19 in the second half (43-57 overall).

Game Recap: The Dragons jumped out to a quick lead by scoring one run in the first inning as Tyler Callihan delivered a sacrifice fly after a base hit by Brian Rey had moved Justice Thompson from first to third. The score remained 1-0 until Peoria scored three runs in the fifth to take a 3-1 lead.

The Dragons pulled to within a run in the sixth on three consecutive hits. Callihan singled, went to second on a hit by Noelvi Marte, and scored on Austin Hendrick’s ground rule double that bounced over the right field fence to make it 3-2.

The Dragons tied the game in the eighth when Callihan reached on an infield single, went to third on Marte’s single to center, and after Hendrick walked to load the bases, Callihan scored on Jose Torres’ sacrifice fly to right to make it 3-3.

Peoria’s first four batters in the top of the 10th inning reached base safely as they scored three runs to take a commanding lead. The Dragons were retired in order in the bottom of the inning as the Chiefs held on to win.

Dragons starting pitcher Joe Boyle went six innings, allowing three runs on four hits with five walks and eight strikeouts. Reliever Jake Gozzo followed Boyle with two dominant innings, striking out three without allowing a run or hit. Both Boyle and Gozzo fired pitches in the game that were clocked at 100 mph. They are believed to be the first two triple-digit pitches by Dragons hurlers this season.

The loss was charged to Dennis Boatman, in his first game with the Dragons since being promoted from Daytona. Boatman pitched a perfect ninth inning but allowed three hits and three runs (two earned) in the 10th.

The Dragons finished the night with eight hits. Callihan, Marte, and Hendrick each had two. Hendrick’s double was the only extra base hit.

Notes: The Dragons are 5-5 in extra inning games in 2022. Eight of their extra inning contests have come at home.

Up Next: On Saturday night, the Dragons host the Chiefs at 7:05 p.m. at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District in the fifth game of the six-game series. Chase Petty (0-1, 18.00) will start for Dayton against Peoria’s Austin Love (5-10, 6.21).

For ticket information, go daytondragons.com/tickets or call (937) 228-2287.

On the Air: Saturday and Sunday’s games will be televised on Dayton’s CW (Channel 26; Spectrum Cable channels 13 and 1013). 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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