West Michigan 4, Dragons 3
May 8, 2015
Click here for the box score
Click here for the game log
West Michigan (R-H-E): 4-3-1
Dayton (R-H-E): 3-7-3
WP: Gabe Hemmer (1-1)
LP: Scott Brattvet (0-2)
Sv: Joe Jimenez (2)
HR: Dayton: Garrett Boulware (2nd, 0 on base in fourth inning); Brian O’Grady (1st, 0 on base in fifth inning).
HR: West Michigan: None
Dayton, Ohio—Joey Pankake’s two-out, run-scoring single in the seventh inning broke a 3-3 tie as the West Michigan Whitecaps defeated the Dayton Dragons 4-3 on Friday night. The game marked the introduction of the new Dragons orange jerseys that will be worn on Friday nights at Fifth Third Field (see attached photo).
The win was the second in two nights for the Whitecaps over the Dragons and snapped Dayton’s streak of winning four consecutive series.
The Whitecaps took advantage of three Dragons errors leading to three unearned runs. They also benefitted from 10 walks allowed by Dayton pitchers, the most given up in a game by the Dragons since the 2013 season.
The Dragons trailed 1-0 in the fourth when Garrett Boulware blasted his second home run of the season to tie the score. Later in the same inning, Dayton’s Wendell Soto broke the tie with a run-scoring double down the left field line to make it 2-1. Then in the fifth, Dayton’s Brian O’Grady connected on a home run to right field, his first of the year, to give the Dragons a 3-1 lead.
But West Michigan took advantage of a Dragons error in the sixth before Shane Zeile connected on a two-out, two-run double to the left-center field fence to make it 3-3. Then in the seventh, another Dragons error allowed the inning to continue with two outs, allowing Pankake to come to the plate with men at first and second. He lined a hit to left against Dragons reliever Jeremy Kivel to drive in Ross Kivett and break the tie.
The Dragons did not have a hit after the fifth inning. They finished the game with seven hits. Ty Washington had a single and double.
Dragons starting pitcher Wyatt Strahan tossed the first five innings and did not allow a hit. He did surrender six walks and one run while striking out four and was not involved in the decision. Reliever Scott Brattvet (0-2) was charged with the loss. He gave up three unearned runs in an inning and one-third of work.
The Dragons (15-14) close out the series and the homestand when they host the Whitecaps (13-16) at Fifth Third Field on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. in the last game of the three-game set. Tejay Antone (2-2, 2.43) will pitch for the Dragons against West Michigan’s Fernando Perez (0-3, 3.74).
All Dragons games are broadcast on radio on Fox Sports 980 WONE and on the internet at wone.com. Games are also available on the Dayton Dragons mobile app.
