Dragons Edge Lugnuts on Saturday, 5-4

Dragons 5, Lansing 4

Click here for the box score

Dayton (R-H-E): 5-5-1; Lansing (R-H-E): 4-8-1

Win: Brock Bell (2-1); Loss: Grant Judkins (0-1); Save: Brody Jessee (1)

HR: Dayton: Cade Hunter (3rd, 0 on base in fourth inning); Carlos Jorge (3rd, 1 on base in eighth inning). HR: Lansing: Cameron Masterman (1st, 0 on base in second inning).

Lansing, Mich.—Carlos Jorge hit a tie-breaking two-run home run in the eighth inning and the Dayton Dragons held off a Lansing comeback bid in the ninth to defeat the Lugnuts 5-4. The Dragons have won three of five in the series that will wrap up on Sunday at 1:05 pm.

With the score tied 2-2 in the eighth, Jorge belted a home run to right field after Jay Allen II had walked to give the Dragons a 4-2 lead. The homer was Jorge’s third of the year and second in the last two nights. Dayton added an important insurance run in the top of the ninth on a run-scoring single by Leo Balcazar to make it 5-2.

Lansing scored two runs before an out was recorded in the bottom of the ninth against Dayton closer Brody Jessee to make it 5-4, but Jessee got a double play ball to clear the bases. With two outs, Lansing’s Colby Halter grounded a 3-2 pitch to second baseman Yan Contreras, who fielded the ball and threw slightly off target to first base, and the throw glanced off the end the glove of Dragons first baseman Ruben Ibarra. Halter rounded first and headed for second, but Jessee, the pitcher, backed up the play and picked up the errant throw, then fired to second base to easily retire Halter and end the game.

The Dragons got the scoring started in the second inning when Hector Rodriguez led off the inning with a double to the gap in right-center and scored on Ruben Ibarra’s single to left to make it 1-0. Lansing tied the game in the bottom of the second on a solo home run by Cameron Masterman.

The Dragons briefly regained the lead in the top of the fourth when Cade Hunter blasted a long home run to right field with an estimated distance of 448’. The homer was Hunter’s third of the year and gave Dayton a 2-1 lead. Lansing responded with a single run in the fifth to tie the game, 2-2.

Dragons reliever Brock Bell (2-1) earned the win, going two and two-thirds scoreless innings while allowing just one baserunner. Jessee pitched a perfect eighth inning and held the lead in the ninth for his first save.

Up Next: The Dragons (9-11) close out the series in Lansing against the Lugnuts (9-11) on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 pm. Javi Rivera (0-0, 6.10) will start for Dayton against Lansing’s James González (1-0, 1.98).

The next Dragons home game is Tuesday, April 30 against the West Michigan Whitecaps (Detroit Tigers affiliate) at 7:05 pm. 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.