Hudson, Diaz Homer in Dragons 8-5 Win

Dragons 8, Beloit 5

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Dayton, Ohio-Joe Hudson and Sammy Diaz belted home runs and Jesse Winker added a two-run triple to lift the Dayton Dragons to an 8-5 victory over the Beloit Snappers on Friday night at Fifth Third Field. The Dragons improved to 15-13 in the second half with the win while Beloit fell to 17-10.

The Dragons battled back from an early deficit as Beloit scored three runs in the top of the first inning to take the lead. Hudson's solo home run in the bottom of the second, his first of the year, made it 4-2.

Still trailing 4-2 in the fifth, the Dragons scored three times to take the lead. Beau Amaral was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Diaz walked. Winker then hit a hard ground ball that bounced off the first base bag and rolled into the right field corner, scoring Amaral and Diaz to tie the game as Winker raced to third. He scored on a wild pitch to give the Dragons a 5-4 lead. Diaz connected on a two-run homer in the sixth to make it 7-4, and Adam Matthews delivered an RBI hit in the seventh to extend the Dayton lead to 8-4. 

Beloit scored once in the top of the ninth and got the potential tying run to the plate with one out before Dragons reliever Wandy Peralta worked out of further trouble.

Dayton starting pitcher Nick Travieso (4-3) earned the win. He worked five innings and allowed four runs (two earned) on three hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Jesus Adames pitched two scoreless innings before Peralta pitched the eighth and ninth, allowing one run on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts. 

The Dragons collected 11 hits. Four Dragons players finished with two hits including Diaz, Winker, Hudson, and Seth Mejias-Brean, who raised his batting average to a season-high .290.  

The Dragons jumped to two games above the .500 mark for the first time in a half this season. They have won four consecutive series and are 10-5 over their last 15 games.

The Dragons open a new three-game series at Fifth Third Field on Saturday when they host the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Milwaukee Brewers affiliate) at 7:05 p.m. Amir Garrett will start for Dayton as he makes his Midwest League debut. Wisconsin will counter with Tyler Wagner (7-7, 3.70). The game will be televised on WHIO digital channel 7.2 and Time Warner Cable channels 23 and 372. All Dragons games can be heard on WONE Radio (980 AM) and via the internet at daytondragons.com and wone.com.