Dragons Press Box Notes for August 18

Dragons GameDay
Saturday, August 18, 2018 l Game # 55 (123)
Fifth Third Field l Dayton, Ohiol 7:07 p.m.
TV: Dayton's CW (26) l Radio: Fox Sports 980 WONE
Bowling Green Hot Rods (31-23, 78-45) at Dayton Dragons (22-32, 53-69)
RH J.D. Busfield (0-0, 3.09) vs. RH Austin Orewiler (4-4, 3.54)
For the complete Press Box Notes packet, click this link: http://www.milb.com/documents/9/8/2/290868982/081818_GameNotes.pdf
For today's Dragons Stat Packet, click this link: http://www.milb.com/documents/9/9/6/290868996/081818_Stat_Pack.pdf

Today's Game: The Dayton Dragons (affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds) meet the Bowling Green Hot Rods (affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays) in the first game of a three-game series. 
Last Game: Friday: Lake County 5, Dayton 4. The Captains scored five runs in the first inning and held off a Dragons comeback bid to avoid being swept in the three-game series. The Dragons eventually got back to within a run at 5-4 and loaded the bases with no one out in the seventh, but Lake County was able to escape the threat and hold the lead. The Dragons left the tying run at third in the bottom of the ninth. Jose Garcia had two hits to lead the Dayton attack.
Playoff Chase: The Dragons must finish in the top two among eligible teams in the East Division in the Second Half (six teams competing; Bowling Green and Lansing ineligible). The Dragons are currently four and one-half games behind West Michigan in the race for the #2 seed in the Second Half. There are 16 games to play.
2018 Team Notes

• The Dragons won two of three games against Lake County after losing eight straight. Over those last 11 games, seven of the nine losses and one of the two wins have come by one run. 
• The Dragons have scored at least four runs in four straight games for the first time since they did it in five straight games June 24-28.

2018 Individual Notes

• Hendrik Clementina (DH) and John Ghyzel (RH relief pitcher) have been named to the MWL Full-Season All-Star Team.
• Alejo Lopez over his last 30 games since July 15: 41 for 107, .383, to raise his average from .247 to .326. Lopez's .383 average since July 15 ranks third among players on the 30 teams at the Single-A classification (Midwest League and South Atlantic League) and eighth among all players playing at the full-season level in Minor League Baseball (120 teams). Lopez had a 14-game hitting streak end on Sunday (0 for 2, walk). He went 24 for 58 (.414) during the hitting streak. This was the longest streak by a Dragons player in 2018 and tied for 16th longest in franchise history.
• J.D. Williams over his last 12 games: 14 for 40, .350, to raise his average from .203 to .254.
• Andy Sugilio over his last 10 games: 12 for 40, .300.
• Jose Garcia has hit safely in four straight games, going 8 for 20, .400.
• Miguel Aguilar over his last six relief appearances: 10.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 6 SO, 0.00 ERA.
• Ryan Nutof over his last six relief appearances: 6.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 SO, 0.00 ERA.

Upcoming Probable Pitchers (Game times are Dayton time) (All games on WONE 980 AM and www.daytondragons.com)
Sunday, August 19 (7:07 p.m.): Bowling Green RH Mikey York (1-0, 2.54) at Dayton RH Mac Sceroler (2-5, 5.67) TV: Dayton's CW (26)
Monday, August 20 (7:00 p.m.): Bowling Green RH Tommy Romero (9-4, 3.01) at Dayton RH Patrick McGuff (2-4, 3.48)