Dragons Forge Forward in Standings

DAYTON, OH - Jamodrick McGruder and Alex Blandino connected for back-to-back home runs backing a solid start by Sal Romano in a 4-2 win Sunday for the Dayton Dragons.

With the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh, McGruder and Blandino both connected on solo shots, both with 3-1 counts against Loons reliever Matt Campbell (0-1), who recorded his first professional loss

With the win, the Dragons moved a half-game ahead of the Loons in the race for the Midwest League Eastern Division's final second-half playoff spot.

Dayton took an early 1-0 lead in the game on an RBI single by Jonathan Reynoso.

The Loons countered with two runs in the fifth to take the lead. Tyler Wampler doubled to bring home Josmar Cordero with the Loons' first run. Later in the inning Wampler scored on a wild pitch by Romano.

Dayton tied the score with a run in the fifth on back-to-back doubles by Blandino and Robert Ramirez.

The Dragons also turned in three clutch defensive plays. In the top of the fifth second baseman Ronald Bueno made a spectacular diving stop on a ball hit by Devan Ahart and threw to the plate to retire Leo Rodriguez attempting to score from third.

In the seventh, center fielder Nick Benedetto made a sensational diving catch to rob Alex Santana of extra bases.

And in the ninth, Joey Curletta was robbed of an infield hit on a slow chopper to third when Tanner Rahier made a solid barehanded pickup and throw to first for the second out of the inning.

Romano (8-10) allowed two runs over seven innings for the victory. Evan Mitchell and Alejandro Chacin threw one scoreless inning each to end the game.

Jose De Leon struck out nine over five innings but allowed two runs to take a no-decision. Michael Johnson worked 1 2/3 scoreless frames in relief.

Right-hander Brandon Martinez (1-8, 4.91 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Loons against the Dragons' righty Nick Travieso (12-5, 3.24) in the second game of the series Monday night at 7 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN 100.9-FM.

The Great Lakes Loons are an eighth-year Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. For tickets and more information about the Loons, visit Loons.com, or call 989-837-BALL.