Dragons Suffer First Loss of Second Half with 4-2 Defeat at West Michigan

West Michigan 4, Dragons 2

Click here for the box score

West Michigan (R-H-E): 4-8-0; Dayton (R-H-E): 2-6-1

Win: Wilkel Hernandez (2-5); Loss: Carson Rudd (3-3); Save: Jack Anderson (2)

HR: Dayton: Justice Thompson (6^th, 0 on base in third inning); Austin Hendrick (4^th, 0 on base in ninth inning). HR: West Michigan: None

Grand Rapids, Mich.—The West Michigan Whitecaps scored three runs in the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie and held on to defeat the Dayton Dragons 4-2 on Thursday night. The loss was the first of the second half for the Dragons, who fell to 4-1 but remained in first place in the East Division of the Midwest League.

The Dragons got the scoring started when Justice Thompson connected on a home run for the second straight night. Thompson blasted a solo shot to right-center field in the third inning, his sixth homer of the year, to make it 1-0.

Dragons starting pitcher Chase Petty shut down the Whitecaps over his four innings of work. Petty allowed three hits, all singles, and two walks but no runs while striking out three. He left the game with a 1-0 lead.

West Michigan tied the game with a run in the fifth against reliever Eddy Demurias, who joined the Dragons earlier Thursday on an injury rehabilitation assignment from Triple-A Louisville.

In the sixth, Carson Rudd replaced Demurias and walked the first two batters to begin the inning. A throwing error by Dayton second baseman Tyler Callihan allowed the tie-breaking run to score, and two more runs crossed the plate on base hits in the inning as West Michigan jumped ahead 4-1.

Dayton’s Austin Hendrick belted a solo home run with one out in the top of the ninth to make it 4-2, and Austin Callahan followed with a single to center field to bring the tying run to the plate. But Mat Nelson struck out and Jack Rogers fouled out to left field to end the game.

The Dragons finished with six hits. Austin Callahan was 2 for 4 with his league-leading 25^th double of the year. He is 8 for 19 (.421) with six extra base hits over his last five games.

Rudd (3-3) was charged with the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) in two-thirds of an inning.

Dragons reliever John Murphy had an effective outing, keeping the Dragons within striking distance. He worked the final two and one-third innings without allowing a hit or run and striking out four.

Up Next: The Dragons (4-1, 37-34) will play a doubleheader at West Michigan (3-2, 35-35) in Grand Rapids on Friday night at 5:35 p.m. Thomas Farr (1-4, 4.04) and Chris McElvain (0-0, 2.25) are the scheduled starters for Dayton.

The Dragons next home game at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District is Tuesday, July 4 at 7:05 p.m. against the Great Lakes Loons. 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.