Strong Pitching Keys Dragons 2-1 Win at Fort Wayne

DRAGONS 2, FORT WAYNE 1

Click here for the box score

Dayton (R-H-E): 2-5-3; Fort Wayne (R-H-E): 1-8-3

Win: Edgar Colon (1-1); Loss: Carson Montgomery (3-8); Save: Trent Hodgdon (11)

HR: Dayton: Ty Doucette (3^rd, 0 on base in third inning). HR: Fort Wayne: None

Fort Wayne, Ind.—Dayton starting pitcher Edgar Colon struck out eight batters over five strong innings and reliever Trent Hodgdon recorded the final eight outs to earn the save as the Dragons defeated the Fort Wayne TinCaps 2-1 on Wednesday night. The Dragons have won the first two games of the six-game series.

Recap: After a 61-minute rain delay before the first pitch, the Dragons took the lead in the second inning, getting back-to-back doubles from Eric Becker and Ryan McCrystal to make it 1-0. In the third, Dayton’s Ty Doucette belted a long home run to right field to make it 2-0. The homer was Doucette’s third of the season and gave the Dragons the run total they would need to win the game.

Colon, a hard-throwing 20-year-old prospect from Puerto Rico who had thrown four no-hit innings in his last start, gave the Dragons five strong innings. He allowed one run in the third inning but kept the TinCaps from generating much momentum with a combination of a fastball that worked in the 96-97 mph range, a splitter, a slider, and a change-up. He allowed just four hits and two walks over his five innings, notching two strikeouts in each of the first four innings.

Reliever Drew Pestka replaced Colon to start the sixth and worked a scoreless innings before the TinCaps threatened to tie the game against him in the seventh. With runners at first and third and one out and Dayton leading 2-1, the Dragons brought in reliever Trent Hodgdon to replace Pestka, and Hodgdon induced an inning-ending double play ball to end the threat.

Hodgdon worked a scoreless eighth, working around a two-out error to hold the lead, and then tossed a perfect ninth inning for his 11^th save. Colon (1-1) was credited with the win.

The Dragons had just five hits with three extra base hits (homer by Doucette and doubles by Becker and McCrystal). Becker extended his hitting streak to eight straight games.

Up Next: The Dragons (23-31, 62-58) continue the six-game series in Fort Wayne on Thursday night at 7:05 with game three of the set against the TinCaps (23-31, 50-70). Kyle McCoy (4-5, 5.70) will start for the Dragons.

The next Dragons home game is Tuesday, September 1 at 7:05 pm against the West Michigan Whitecaps at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District. For ticket information, go to daytondragons.com/tickets or call (937) 228-2287.

On the Air: All Dragons home and road games are broadcast on radio on FOX Sports 980 AM WONE. Games can be heard on smart phones, iPads, and other mobile devices via the free Dragons Mobile App, or on a computer at wone.com. Games are also available on HD Radio on 104.7 WTUI HD 2.