Whitecaps Top Dragons on Fourth of July

West Michigan 20, Dragons 1

Click here for the box score

West Michigan (R-H-E): 20-15-1; Dayton (R-H-E): 1-7-2

Win: Brant Hurter (1-0); Loss: Joe Boyle (3-2); Save: None

HR: Dayton: None; HR: West Michigan: None

Dayton, Ohio—The West Michigan Whitecaps scored 12 runs in the third inning and went on to a 20-1 victory over the Dayton Dragons on Monday night.

A Fourth of July crowd of 8,034 was in attendance at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District.

Game Recap: West Michigan led the Dragons 1-0 after two innings before the Whitecaps exploded for 12 runs in the third, taking advantage of eight Dayton walks that tied a club record for most walks in an inning.

Dragons starting pitcher Joe Boyle, who had allowed only five runs all season over 55.1 innings entering the game, issued five walks in the third inning and left the game with the Dragons trailing 4-0, one out, and the bases loaded. Jake Gilbert replaced Boyle and struggled with his control as well, issuing three walks, a hit batsman, and one hit, before leaving the game with two outs and the Dragons now trailing 9-0. James Marinan replaced Gilbert and allowed three straight hits as four more runs scored and West Michigan took a 13-0 lead.

The Whitecaps added another run in the fourth, two in the fifth, two in the sixth, and two in the ninth. Dayton infielder J.V. Martinez pitched the ninth inning, becoming the first Dayton position player to take the mound since Francisco Urbaez threw an inning on May 26, 2021.

Boyle (3-2) suffered the loss and was charged with seven earned runs in two and one-third innings, allowing just one hit with six walks and one strikeout. His earned run average jumped from 0.65 to 1.72.

The most effective Dayton pitcher in the game was reliever Manuel Cachutt, who pitched the seventh and eighth innings, retiring all six batters he faced.

The Dragons scored their run in the third when Justice Thompson tripled and scored on Quin Cotton’s ground out.

The Dragons finished with seven hits. Thompson was 2 for 3 with a triple. Martinez and Daniel Vellojin each had a double.

Up Next: The Dragons do not play on Tuesday. They continue their six-game series with West Michigan on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District. Miguel Medrano (1-0, 5.84) will start for Dayton. For ticket information, go 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.

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