Dragons Score 5 in 7th; Win 8-3
Click Here to see the Box Score
Cedar Rapids (R-H-E): 3-8-0
Dayton (R-H-E): 8-13-2
WP: Dan Jensen (1-2)
LP: Logan Odom (0-2)
Sv: None
HR: Dayton: None
HR: Cedar Rapids: None
Dayton, Ohio-The Dayton Dragons scored five runs in the seventh inning to snap a 3-3 tie on the way to an 8-3 victory over the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Monday night. A crowd of 8,499 at Fifth Third Field saw the Dragons climb to 9-9 on the year and even the series with the Kernels at one win apiece heading into the rubber match and home stand finale on Tuesday.
With the score tied at 3-3, Dayton's Juan Perez started the bottom of the seventh with a single and then stole second. Ryan Wright walked. Two batters later, Steve Selsky lined a hit back through the middle to bring in two runs with two outs and give the Dragons a 5-3 lead. Selsky stole second and after Kyle Waldrop walked, Junior Arias drilled a triple over the head of the center fielder to bring in two more runs and make it 7-3. Yovan Gonzalez drove in Arias with an infield single to make it 8-3 and close out the scoring.
Centerville native Dan Jensen (1-2) threw two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win. He allowed three hits, all singles, and struck out two. Jensen has not allowed an earned run this season in seven games covering 13 innings.
The Dragons initially took the lead in the third inning with two runs. Waldrop singled to start the inning and went to second on a hit by Arias. Gonzalez's sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third and one batter later, Perez doubled to the right field corner to give Dayton a 2-0 lead.
Cedar Rapids scored one run in the fifth and then took the lead with two in the top of the sixth at 3-2. Frazier Hall's RBI single brought in the tying run and the go-ahead run scored on the same play on an error by Waldrop in right field.
The Dragons tied the game in the bottom of the sixth when Gonzalez singled to right field with two outs to bring in Waldrop from second to make it 3-3 and set the stage for the big five-run seventh.
Dragons starting pitcher Daniel Tuttle pitched well in his first outing since July 15, 2011. He worked six innings, allowing five hits and three runs (two earned) with no walks and four strikeouts. He was not involved in the decision.
The Dragons collected 12 hits. Perez was 3 for 4 with a walk and two RBI. Arias was 2 for 4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Waldrop was 2 for 3 and scored three runs. Gonzalez also had two hits and drove in two.
The Dragons host the Kernels in the last game of the series on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. at Fifth Third Field. Tanner Robles (1-0, 3.06) will start for Dayton against Cedar Rapids' Jairo Diaz (1-1, 5.87). The Dragons begin a six-game road trip on Wednesday in Appleton, Wisconsin against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at 7:35 EDT. The next home game is Wednesday, May 2 against the Lake County Captains.