Dragons Top West Michigan 8-5 on Friday for Second Straight Win

Dragons 8, West Michigan 5

Click here for the box score

Dayton (R-H-E): 8-10-0; West Michigan (R-H-E): 5-9-4

Win: Rhett Lowder (2-0); Loss: Carlos Marcano (0-3); Save: John Murphy (1)

HR: Dayton: None HR: West Michigan: Roberto Campos (1^st, 0 on base in fifth inning); Cole Turney (2^nd, 1 on base in sixth inning).

Dayton, Ohio—The Dayton Dragons collected 10 hits and scored runs in five different innings as they defeated the West Michigan Whitecaps 8-5 on Friday night. The Dragons have won the last two games after losing the first two of the six-game series.

A crowd of 7,958 was in attendance at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District.

Game Recap:

The Dragons jumped out to the lead with three runs in the third inning. After a walk and an error, Dayton’s Hector Rodriguez delivered a two-run single to left field to start the scoring. Back-to-back doubles by Sal Stewart and Cam Collier produced another run to give the Dragons a 3-0 lead.

The Dragons made it 4-0 in the fourth when Logan Tanner lined a double to center field to drive in Victor Acosta from second base with one out.

Meanwhile, Dragons pitcher Rhett Lowder got off to a great start. He retired the first 11 batters including six on strikeouts as the Dragons built their lead. But West Michigan’s Roberto Campos drilled a solo home run in the fifth inning and Cole Turney hit a two-run homer in the sixth to make it 4-3.

The Dragons got a run back in the bottom of the sixth when Acosta walked, took advantage of two wild pitches to go to third, and scored on an error to make it 5-3. The Dragons added two more in the seventh, keyed by an RBI single by Leo Balcazar to make it 7-3.

West Michigan put together a two-out rally in the top of the eighth, collecting three straight hits to score two runs and pull to within two at 7-5. But Dayton closed out the scoring in the bottom of the eighth when Jay Allen walked, stole second, and eventually scored on Sal Stewart’s sacrifice fly to make it 8-5.

Lowder (2-0) worked six innings, allowing three runs on five hits with no walks and nine strikeouts to earn the win. John Murphy pitched a perfect ninth inning for his first save.

"I actually thought I pitched pretty well through the first four innings,” said Lowder. “I mean, everything was working efficiently. Getting ahead, getting guys out. The fifth inning…home run happens. The two home runs…they both happen but I'm not too worried about it. Can look back and reflect. Obviously I think looking at the box score, I think what hurt me was the hit by pitch. Not the two home runs. Get two outs in the sixth and then a hit batter just puts a guy on, gives them a little more momentum (than) had I stayed on the gas like I had previously done. Overall I thought stuff was good. Thought I did pretty well."

“I think we're just really coming together as a team. We've started incorporating a little bit, like team stretch, and getting more unity. I think the guys are just having fun. It's obviously more fun to win."

The Dragons offense featured several strong performances. Cam Collier had three hits including a double with a run batted in. Stewart and Acosta each had two hits and an RBI. Rodriguez had one hit and drove in two.

Up Next: The Dragons (11-14) host West Michigan (10-15) in the fifth game of the six-game series on Saturday night at 7:05 pm at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District. Jared Lyons (0-0, 5.28) will start for Dayton against West Michigan’s Garrett Burhenn (0-2, 2.50), a former Ohio State hurler. 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.