Dragons Rally in 9th, Earn 8-7 Walk-Off Win
May 31, 2012
Click Here to see the Box Score
South Bend (R-H-E): 7-13-1
Dayton (R-H-E): 8-12-2
WP: Mike Dennhardt (1-1)
LP: D.J. Johnson (2-4)
Sv: None
HR: Dayton: Kurtis Muller (4th, 0 on base in fifth inning).
HR: South Bend: Roidany Aguila (1st, 0 on base in fourth inning).
Dayton, Ohio-Joe Terry's single to center field drove in Kurtis Muller from second base with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Dayton Dragons came from behind to defeat the South Bend Silver Hawks 8-7. Fifth Third Field attendance of 8,367 saw the Dragons score three runs in the bottom of the ninth to win their fourth straight home game and notch their second "walk-off" win of 2012.
The Dragons battled back from a 6-2 deficit and trailed 7-5 going to the bottom of the ninth inning. Brandon Dailey led off the frame with a double off the left field fence, and Juan Perez followed with a single to center to drive in Dailey. Perez went to second on a wild pitch and scored on Kurtis Muller's single to center to tie the game. Muller took second base on the throw home and then scored on Terry's hit to center field, sliding in just ahead of the tag by South Bend catcher Roidany Aguila to end the game.
Muller enjoyed yet another big night. He reached base four times, going 2 for 3 with a home run and two walks to raise his average to .475 (19 for 40). In just 10 games with the Dragons, Muller has taken over the team lead in homers for the year with four.
South Bend scored four runs in the fifth inning to build a 6-2 lead before the Dragons answered with three in the bottom half of the inning. Muller belted a solo home run with two outs to make it 6-3, and Terry reached when he was hit by a pitch. Steve Selsky tripled to right-center field to bring in Terry and make it 6-4, and Selsky scored on Sean Buckley's single to pull the Dragons to within one. South Bend scored one run in the seventh to lead 7-5, setting the stage for the Dragons big ninth inning.
Dragons reliever Mike Dennhardt (1-1) recorded his first career victory, going two and one-third scoreless innings and allowing no hits or walks. Starting pitcher Tanner Robles worked the first four and one-third innings, allowing 11 hits and six runs with no walks and three strikeouts. Lucas O'Rear replaced Robles and worked two and one-third innings, allowing two hits and one run with two walks and no strikeouts.
The Dragons collected 12 hits including four in the bottom of the ninth without an out being recorded. Buckley was 3 for 4 with a double. Muller, Terry, and Junior Arias each had two hits.
The Dragons have won four of their last six games overall and four straight home games. The win was their second walk-off victory of the season and their first since April 6, the second game of the year. The game marked the second time in six days that the Dragons have trailed by four runs in a game that they came back to win, their two biggest comebacks of the season. Thursday's game marked the first time in 2012 that the Dragons have trailed by more than one run going to the ninth inning and won the game.
The Dragons host the Silver Hawks again Friday at Fifth Third Field at 7:05 p.m. (Radio: WONE 980 AM; TV: WHIO 7.2, Time Warner Cable 23 & 372) in the last game of a three-game series. Stalin Gerson (3-3, 4.12) will start for Dayton against South Bend's Jesse Darrah (4-2, 4.17). Chris Sexton, a former Reds infielder who starred at St. Xavier High School and Miami University, will serve as the guest commentator on the telecast.