Lively Joins Dragons as Garrett Departs

DAYTON, OHIO-The Dayton Dragons announced the following roster changes today: 

Left-handed pitcher Amir Garrett has been placed on the temporary inactive list. 

Right-handed pitcher Ben Lively has been promoted to Dayton from Billings (Class: Rookie, Pioneer League).

The Dragons roster remains at the Midwest League limit of 25 players. 

Garrett, a two-sport player, will begin school at Cal State Northridge, where he will continue his college basketball career after playing for two seasons at St. John's. He started eight games for the Dragons this season, going 1-3 with a 6.88 earned run average.

Lively was the Reds fourth round draft pick earlier this summer out of the University of Central Florida. He has been sensational at Billings since beginning his professional career, making 12 starts for the Mustangs. He has allowed just three earned runs over 12 starts covering 37 innings, posting an ERA of 0.73 with an 0-3 record (after throwing 106 innings this spring at UCF, Lively has been limited to three innings per start by the Cincinnati Reds, making him ineligible to earn winning decisions). He has allowed just 21 hits and held opposing batters to a combined average of .163. He has walked 12 and struck out 49. He did not allow an earned run over his first seven starts covering 21 innings. Over his last three starts at Billings, he has given up a total of one hit and no runs in 10 innings with one walk and 16 strikeouts.

At Central Florida this spring, Lively was 7-5 with a 2.04 ERA in 15 starts.

The Dragons open a huge three-game series at Great Lakes at 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday. The Dragons trail Great Lakes by two and one-half games for the final playoff spot with six games to play. Lively is scheduled to start Friday night's game for the Dragons. 

The Dragons return home for the final series of the regular season Saturday-Monday vs. South Bend. 

Dragons playoff tickets are now available for purchase. They are just $5.00 and each ticket also includes a voucher for a $5.00 food credit at concession stands at Fifth Third Field. Call (937) 228-2287 for more information.