Dragons 6, Beloit 0
June 13, 2015
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Beloit (R-H-E): 0-6-0
Dayton (R-H-E): 6-11-0
WP: Seth Varner (6-4)
LP: Brett Graves (6-1)
Sv: None
HR: Dayton: Jose Ortiz (2nd, 1 on base in fourth inning); Jimmy Pickens (2nd, 0 on base in fourth inning); Luis Gonzalez (2nd, 0 on base in fourth inning).
HR: Beloit: None
Dayton, Ohio—For the first time in the 16-year history of the Dayton Dragons, three consecutive Dragons hitters connected on home runs on Saturday night as Dayton defeated the Beloit Snappers 6-0. A crowd of 8,192 attended the game at Fifth Third Field as the Dragons won the first game of the three-game series.
With one out in the bottom of the fourth inning, Dayton’s Brian O’Grady drilled a double to right field, and Avain Rachal followed with a double to left to bring in O’Grady and get the Dragons scoring started. Jose Ortiz followed with a two-run home run to left-center field to make it 3-0. Jimmy Pickens hit the next pitch for a home run to center field, and Luis Gonzalez lined the second pitch he saw for a homer to left to make it 5-0. All three Dragons home run hitters connected on their second homer of the season.
After the homers by Ortiz and Pickens, the Dragons had back-to-back home runs for the first time since September 1, 2014, when Jamodrick McGruder and Jon Matthews connected. But the Dragons had never belted three consecutive homers until Gonzalez followed the blasts by Ortiz and Pickens with his own home run.
The Dragons closed out the scoring with a single run in the sixth when Pickens doubled and scored on Gonzalez’s single to make it 6-0.
The home runs overshadowed an outstanding pitching performance by Dragons starter Seth Varner (6-4). He worked seven innings, allowing just four hits (all singles) with no walks and seven strikeouts to become the Dragons first six-game winner this season.
The Dragons offense featured 11 hits. O’Grady, who hit two runs in Friday night’s game, had three hits including a double. Gonzalez also had three hits, while Pickens had two.
The Dragons began the day four games out of the wildcard spot with nine games to play in the first half season. Bowling Green, leading the wildcard race, hosted Wisconsin in a late game in Kentucky.
The Dragons (31-29) host the Snappers again on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Fifth Third Field. Tyler Mahle (5-4, 3.00) will start for the Dragons against Beloit’s Joey Wagman (2-0, 1.26).
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.
Notes: Over the last two nights, O’Grady is 5 for 6 with two home runs, a double, two singles, and a walk.
