Dragons Pitchers Shut Down 'Hawks in 3-1 Win

Dragons 3, South Bend 1

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South Bend, Ind.-Three Dayton pitchers combined to allow just two hits and the Dragons came from behind with a three-run seventh inning to defeat the South Bend Silver Hawks 3-1 on Thursday night. The win allowed the Dragons to avoid a sweep of the four-game series and move back into second place in the Midwest League Eastern Division, just one-half game out of first. The Dragons snapped South Bend's eight-game winning streak.

South Bend took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, scoring their only run of the night on a wild pitch. The Silver Hawks did not have a base hit after the third inning.

The Dragons did not have a hit until Beau Amaral led off the seventh with a triple to left center field. After Jeff Gelalich reached on an error and Tanner Rahier popped out to shortstop, Sebastian Elizalde lined a hit to right field to bring in Amaral and tie the game at 1-1. A wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third, and Gelalich scored on a one-hop liner to shortstop as he beat the tag at the plate after the throw home to make it 2-1. Elizalde scored from third on an error to give the Dragons a 3-1 lead.

Dragons starting pitcher Amir Garrett had his best outing of the season, allowing one run on two hits over five innings. He walked four and struck out two. Reliever Alejandro Chacin (3-0) worked two innings and was credited with the win. He walked three and struck out one. Scott Brattvet tossed two perfect innings, striking out one, to record his third save.

The Dragons finished with three hits. Beau Amaral had two of them including his third triple of the season as he raised his batting average to .323.

South Bend starting pitcher Bradin Shipley (1-1) took a no-hitter to the seventh inning but suffered a hard-luck loss. He allowed three runs (one earned) over his and one-third.

The Dragons (12-7) travel to Midland, Michigan to begin a three-game series with the first place Great Lakes Loons (13-7) on Friday at 6:05 p.m. (EDT). Nick Travieso (2-0, 1.59) will start for Dayton against Great Lakes' Greg Harris (1-1, 4.32). The next home game is Monday, April 28 vs. the Lansing Lugnuts at 7:00 p.m. at Fifth Third Field. All Dragons games can be heard on WONE Radio (980 AM) and via the internet at wone.com and through the Dragons Mobile App. 

Notes: The Dragons established season highs in the game for fewest hits allowed (2) and most walks given (7)…Chacin has not allowed an earned run in 11.2 innings this season…Brattvet is 3 for 3 in save opportunities and has given up on one run on the year in seven games covering 8.1 innings.