Dragons Pitching Dominance Continues in 3-1 Win on Friday
Dragons 3, South Bend 1 Click here for the box score Dayton (R-H-E): 3-7-0; South Bend (R-H-E): 1-3-1 Win: Myles Gayman (2-1); Loss: Adam Laskey (0-1); Save: Jake Gozzo (3) HR: Dayton: Ruben Ibarra (5th, 0 on base in seventh inning). HR: South Bend: None South Bend, Ind.—Three Dayton pitchers
Dragons 3, South Bend 1
Click here for the box score
Dayton (R-H-E): 3-7-0; South Bend (R-H-E): 1-3-1
Win: Myles Gayman (2-1); Loss: Adam Laskey (0-1); Save: Jake Gozzo (3)
HR: Dayton: Ruben Ibarra (5th, 0 on base in seventh inning). HR: South Bend: None
South Bend, Ind.—Three Dayton pitchers combined on a three-hitter as the Dragons string of outstanding pitching performances continued in a 3-1 victory over the South Bend Cubs on Friday night. The Dragons have won three straight games, allowing a total of four runs in those games against the first place Cubs.
On Friday, starter Julian Aguiar, the Midwest League leader in earned run average, tossed six strong innings, allowing just two hits, two walks, and one run while striking out eight. Aguiar allowed a bad-hop single to the lead-off man in the first inning and then retired the next 14 in a row. Aguiar lowered his earned run average to a league-best 1.60, though he left the game trailing 1-0.
Dayton’s Ruben Ibarra delivered a game-tying opposite field home run in the top of the seventh, a line drive homer to right field that was his fifth four-bagger of the season to make it a 1-1 game.
The Dragons took the lead in the eighth. Michael Trautwein drilled a double to left-center field with one out, and the next batter, Trey Faltine, lined a single to right. Trautwein intended to stop at third, but when the throw back to the cut-off man was dropped, Trautwein scored and Faltine raced all the way around to third as the Dragons took a 2-1 lead. With two outs, Faltine scored on Tyler Callihan’s infield single to make it 3-1.
The Dragons bullpen was outstanding. Myles Gayman (2-1) replaced Aguiar to start the seventh and worked two innings, allowing just one base runner and no runs to earn the win. Jake Gozzo tossed a perfect ninth inning to notch his third save of the season and second of the series.
The Dragons finished with seven hits. Austin Callahan was 2 for 4. Tyler Callihan extended his hitting streak to seven straight games.
Notes: The Dragons placed catcher Mat Nelson (left knee sprain) and outfielder/first baseman Jack Rogers (right thumb laceration) on the seven-day injured list prior to Friday’s game.
Up Next: The Dragons (19-23) will meet the Cubs (23-19) at 4:05 p.m. on Saturday afternoon in the fifth game of the six-game series at Four Winds Field in South Bend. A Dayton win would give them their first four-game winning streak of 2023. Jose Acuña (2-0, 2.51) 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.