Dragons Win Third Straight, Top Loons 6-1

Dragons 6, Great Lakes 1

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Midland, Mich.-Brandon Dailey's two-run double keyed a four-run second inning and four Dayton pitchers combined on a four-hitter as the Dragons defeated the Great Lakes Loons 4-1 on Saturday night. The win was the third straight for the first place Dragons, who improved their record to 14-7. Great Lakes fell to 13-9.

For the second straight night, the Dragons had a big inning early to take a commanding lead. They scored four runs in the second to jump ahead 4-0. The rally started with Sebastian Elizalde's base hit to center field, and Tanner Rahier doubled high off the left field fence to score him. Daniel Mateo singled to center to move Rahier to third, and with two outs, Dailey doubled to right-center to drive in Rahier and Mateo. Carlton Daal followed with a single to center to bring in Dailey and make it 4-0.

Great Lakes' Paul Hoenecke hit a solo home run to right field in the bottom of the second. The Loons did not advance another runner past first base the rest of the night.

Phillip Ervin singled in Daal in the top of the ninth to give the Dragons a 5-1 lead, and later in the inning, Ervin scored on Sebastian Elizalde's ground out to close out the scoring.

Dragons starting pitcher Daniel Wright (1-0) was outstanding to earn his first Midwest League win. He worked six innings, allowing one run on four hits with no walks and two strikeouts. Wright allowed just four base runners and the Dragons turned three double plays behind him.

Joel Bender pitched a perfect seventh inning in relief of Wright and Evan Mitchell tossed a 1-2-3 eighth. Scott Brattvet closed it out with a perfect ninth inning as the Dragons bullpen trio combined to retire all nine batters they faced.

The Dragons finished with 11 hits. Daal had his second straight three-hit game, raising his batting average to .333. Elizalde had two hits, two walks, and an RBI. 

The game included a baseball rarity as the Loons did not strand a runner. Three of the four batters who reached base were erased on double plays and the other, Hoenecke, scored.

The Dragons battle the Loons in Midland again on Sunday at 3:05 p.m. (EDT) as the Dragons try for a sweep of the series. Sal Romano (2-1, 2.86) will start for Dayton against Great Lakes' Zachary Bird (1-2, 7.36). The Dragons are 3-3 through six games of their seven-game road trip.

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: Dragons pitchers have allowed a total of five runs in the last four games…The Dragons league-leading ERA dropped to 2.45…Three of the five Dayton starting pitchers have ERA's of 1.62 or lower...The Dragons have collected 26 hits over the last two games after getting only 16 in the four games at South Bend…The Dragons did not commit an error for the second straight night…The Dragons have now turned 28 double plays defensively, most in the Midwest League…Dragons pitchers did not issue a walk in the game…The Dragons stole four bases including two by Elizalde to give him seven on the year.

Transactions: Outfielder Beau Amaral was promoted to Pensacola before the game and infielder Humberto Valor was activated.