Kernels Top Dragons 4-2 on Friday Night
Cedar Rapids 4, Dragons 2 Click here for the box score Cedar Rapids (R-H-E): 4-7-0; Dayton (R-H-E): 2-7-0 Win: Christian MacLeod (1-0); Loss: Julian Aguiar (2-1); Save: None HR: Dayton: None HR: Cedar Rapids: Emmanuel Rodriguez (7th, 0 on base in fifth inning). Dayton, Ohio—Cedar Rapids’ Emmanuel Rodriguez hit a
Cedar Rapids 4, Dragons 2
Click here for the box score
Cedar Rapids (R-H-E): 4-7-0; Dayton (R-H-E): 2-7-0
Win: Christian MacLeod (1-0); Loss: Julian Aguiar (2-1); Save: None
HR: Dayton: None HR: Cedar Rapids: Emmanuel Rodriguez (7th, 0 on base in fifth inning).
Dayton, Ohio—Cedar Rapids’ Emmanuel Rodriguez hit a home run and scored three runs as the Kernels defeated the Dayton Dragons 4-2 on Friday night.
A crowd of 7,382 was in attendance at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District. The Dragons have lost two straight games but they are still 11-4 over their last 15.
Cedar Rapids scored two runs in the top of the first inning to jump out to an early lead. The Dragons responded with a run in the bottom of the first when Edwin Arroyo singled, advanced to third on a hit by Austin Callahan, and scored when Justice Thompson grounded into a double play to make it 2-1.
But the Dragons could not score again until the ninth inning as Cedar Rapids added single runs in the third and fifth to extend their lead to 4-1.
In the ninth, Thompson led off the frame with a base hit to center field and Austin Hendrick singled to move Thompson to second. With one out, Mat Nelson singled to right to drive in Thompson and make it 4-2, putting the tying run on base. But Jack Rogers struck out for the second out, and Wendell Marrero struck out to end the game.
Dragons starting pitcher Julian Aguiar (2-1), the Midwest League pitcher of the month in May, suffered his first loss of the year. He pitched the first four innings, allowing three runs on four hits with four walks and five strikeouts.
The Dragons bullpen had a strong night, combining to allow one run in five innings. John Murphy tossed three innings, allowing one run on a solo homer by Rodriguez. Jayvien Sandridge worked two scoreless innings.
The Dragons finished with seven hits by seven different players. Arroyo’s single in the first inning extended his hitting streak to nine straight games, one short of the team’s season high of 10 by Austin Hendrick. Eight different Dragons players reached base with a hit or a walk, but the team was 1 for 14 with men in scoring position.
Up Next: The Dragons (28-27) host Cedar Rapids (31-24) in the fifth game of a six-game series at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street on Saturday night at 7:15 p.m. Jose Acuña (3-0, 2.40) is scheduled to start for Dayton. For ticket information, go to daytondragons.com/tickets or call (937) 228-2287.
On the Air: Saturday and Sunday’s Dragons games will be television live on Dayton’s CW (Channel 26; Spectrum Cable channels 13 and 1013). 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.