Dragons Press Box Notes for August 20

Dragons GameDay
Monday, August 20, 2018 l Game # 57 (125)
Fifth Third Field l Dayton, Ohiol 7:00 p.m.
Radio: Fox Sports 980 WONE
Bowling Green Hot Rods (32-24, 79-46) at Dayton Dragons (23-33, 54-70)
RH Tommy Romero (9-4, 3.01) vs. RH Patrick McGuff (2-4, 3.48)
For the complete Press Box Notes packet, click this link: http://www.milb.com/documents/5/7/8/291142578/082018_GameNotes.pdf
For today's Dragons Stat Pack, click this link: http://www.milb.com/documents/2/3/2/291143232/082018_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 last game of a three-game series. 
Last Game: Sunday: Bowling Green 13, Dayton 9. Each team collected 18 hits in the Sunday afternoon slugfest. The Dragons hit three home runs (Hendrik Clementina, Andy Sugilio, Jose Garcia) but could not overcome a six-run seventh inning by Bowling Green when the Hot Rods broke a 6-6 tie. The Dragons battled back and had the tying run at the plate in the eighth inning but came up short. Garcia, Sugilio, Lorenzo Cedrola, and Leandro Santana each had three hits for the Dragons.    
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 games behind Great Lakes in the race for the #2 seed in the Second Half. There are 14 games to play.
2018 Team Notes

• The Dragons are 3-2 on their current six-game home stand, which concludes tonight.
• The Dragons have hit four home runs in the first two games of the current series with Bowling Green. This marks their highest home run total in a series in the second half. They last hit more than four home runs in a series at Clinton May 4-6 when they connected on a season-high six in a set.
• The Dragons team ERA in their 52 wins is 2.67 (488 IP, 145 ER). In the 70 losses, it is 6.46 (592 IP, 425 ER).

2018 Individual Notes

• Alejo Lopez over his last 32 games since July 15: 42 for 114, .368, to raise his average from .247 to .319. Lopez's .368 average since July 15 ranks second among players on the 30 teams at the Single-A classification (Midwest League and South Atlantic League) and 15th among all players playing at the full-season level in Minor League Baseball (120 teams). 
• J.D. Williams over his last 13 games: 15 for 43, .349, to raise his average from .203 to .256.
• Andy Sugilio over his last 12 games: 16 for 48, .333. He has home runs in each of the last two games.
• Jose Garcia has hit safely in six straight games, going 13 for 29, .448.
• Jonathan India has a double in four straight games.
• Ryan Nutof over his last seven relief appearances: 9.2 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 9 SO, 0.93 ERA.

Upcoming Probable Pitchers (Game times are Dayton time) (All games on WONE 980 AM and www.daytondragons.com)
Tuesday, August 21 (7:05 p.m.): Dayton RH Jared Solomon (0-1, 6.17) at West Michigan RH Jesus Rodriguez (5-7, 4.75)
Wednesday, August 22 (7:05 p.m.): Dayton LH Packy Naughton (5-10, 4.40) at West Michigan RH Brad Bass (6-7, 4.21)
Thursday, August 23 (7:05 p.m.): Dayton RH Austin Orewiler (5-4, 3.40) at West Michigan RH Wilkel Hernandez (2-5, 4.86)