Dragons Score 9 in 1st, Sweep Bandits
Dayton (R-H-E): 9-12-2
Quad Cities (R-H-E): 5-10-4
WP: J.C. Sulbaran (1-0)
LP: Scott McGregor (2-3)
Sv: None
HR: Dayton: None
Quad Cities: Brett Lilley (1st, 1 on base in fifth inning)
Davenport, Iowa-The Dayton Dragons exploded for nine runs in the first inning on Friday night on the way to completing a three-game sweep of the Quad Cities River Bandits, winning 9-5 to earn their sixth victory in their last seven games. Dayton improved to 15-26 on the year while Quad Cities fell to 21-19.
After Dave Sappelt grounded out to shortstop to start the game, the next nine Dragons batters reached base safely and all of them scored. Miguel Rojas singled to center. Byron Wiley reached on an error. Carlos Mendez singled to right to drive in Rojas and make it 1-0. Kyle Day reached on a single to third to load the bases. Cody Puckett delivered a two-run single to left and Humberto Sosa followed with a two-run double to right-center to make it 5-0. After Kevin Coddington walked, Andrew Means singled to left to drive in Sosa and make it 6-0. Sappelt followed with a two-run double to make it 8-0, and Rojas added a sacrifice fly to make it 9-0.
Quad Cities battled back with three in the fifth and two in the sixth but the Dragons held on for their first series sweep of the year. Dragons starting pitcher J.C. Sulbaran notched his first professional victory, working five innings and allowing five hits and three runs with four walks and six strikeouts.
The Dragons finished with 12 hits. Sappelt, Day, Puckett, and Sosa each had two hits.
The Dragons had a rarity as a team when all nine players in the lineup scored in the first inning. The nine runs and eight hits in the inning were both season highs for a single inning.
Dayton has outscored their opponents 46-21 in the seven games on the road trip. They have scored at least eight runs in four of the last five games.
The Dragons are now 14-14 since beginning the season with a 1-12 record.
Dayton will travel to Burlington to open a three-game series with the Burlington Bees on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (EDT). Matt Fairel (2-2, 3.12) will start for the Dragons. The next home game at Fifth Third Field is Tuesday, May 26th vs. the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
Notes: Sunday's Dragons game at Burlington will be heard on Kiss Country 101.7 FM. All other Dragons games are heard on WING 1410 AM.
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