Dragons Hold Off Cubs in 9th, Win Fourth Straight Game

Dragons 4, South Bend 3

Click here for the box score

Dayton (R-H-E): 4-6-1; South Bend (R-H-E): 3-8-0

Win: Jose Acuña (3-0); Loss: Brandon Birdsell (1-2); Save: Braxton Roxby (1)

HR: Dayton: Justice Thompson (3rd, 1 on base in fourth inning). HR: South Bend: None

South Bend, Ind.—Braxton Roxby pitched out of trouble in the eighth and ninth innings to protect a one-run lead while Justice Thompson hit a two-run home run as the Dayton Dragons held on to defeat the South Bend Cubs 4-3 on Saturday afternoon at Four Winds Field in South Bend. The victory gave the Dragons a season-long four-game winning streak.

Dayton built a 4-0 lead over the first four innings and had to battle at the end to hold the lead. In the top of the first, Ruben Ibarra delivered a two-run single to bring in Blake Dunn and Tyler Callihan, who had both reached on hits, to make it 2-0. In the fourth, Michael Trautwein singled and Thompson followed with his third home run of the season to make it 4-0.

Dragons starting pitcher Jose Acuña shutout the Cubs over the first four innings before allowing two runs in the fifth. One of the runs came on an error and Acuña left the game after five frames, throwing 77 pitches. He allowed just three hits and two runs (one earned) with three walks and four strikeouts.

Dennis Boatman replaced Acuña in the sixth and tossed one scoreless inning. John Murphy came on to start the seventh and surrendered three hits and a run in the inning before escaping while still holding the lead. South Bend, trailing 4-3, put runners at first and third with one out when Christian Franklin hit a fly ball to right field. Dayton’s Austin Hendrick made the catch in foul ground as the runner at third tagged and tried to score. Hendrick made a perfect throw home and catcher Michael Trautwein made the tag for an inning-ending double play.

Murphy started the eighth and allowed a pair of one-out singles before being replaced by Roxby. The first man to face Roxby, Scott McKeon, hit a slow roller toward third that rolled dead on the grass for an apparent infield single, but umpire Robert Ginther called the lead runner out for interfering with Dragons third baseman Austin Callahan for the second out of the inning, and Roxby got a fly out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the ninth, Roxby retired the first two batters before issuing a walk. The next hitter bounced to shortstop. Dayton’s Edwin Arroyo fielded the ball, but his throw to second was late on what was ruled a fielder’s choice, allowing the game to continue with two outs and runners at first and second. Yohendrick Pinango then hit a chopper to the right of Dragons second baseman Tyler Callihan, who raced over, made a lunging short-hop play, and then sprinted to second base to beat the runner, get the force out, and end the game.

The Dragons finished with six hits by six different players. Thompson’s home run was the only extra base hit.

Acuña (3-0) earned the win and Roxby picked up his first save.

Notes: The Dragons clinched their second series victory of the year with the win. They won four of six in Lansing in early May.

Up Next: The Dragons (21-23) close out the six-game series with the Cubs (23-21) in South Bend on Sunday night at 7:05 p.m. at Four Winds Field. Thomas Farr (0-2, 4.05) is scheduled to start for Dayton.

The Dragons will return home to host the West Michigan Whitecaps on Tuesday, May 30 at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District. For ticket information, go to 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.