Dayton Holds Off Great Lakes, Behind Two Homers

DAYTON, Ohio. – The Dayton Dragons (2-3) four-run first inning stood strong for the duration of a 7-3 win over the Great Lakes Loons (1-4) on a 75-degree sunny evening at Day Air Ballpark.

The Dragons took the lead, which they never relinquished, in the first inning. Austin Hendrick, rifled a double down the right-field line to begin things. Following two walks from Loons starter Adolfo Ramirez, Tyler Callihan stepped up. Callihan lifted a 3-1 offering just over the right field wall for Dayton’s first Grand Slam of 2023.

Ramirez responded in the second with a seven-pitch 1-2-3 inning. Dragons catcher Mat Nelson, to begin the bottom of the third, rocketed a ball over the left-field fence, to make it 5-0. Ramirez despite four walks did strike out six Dayton batters, two in his third and final inning.

In the first three innings, Dragons starter Carson Rudd faced the minimum. Great Lakes touted just three hits off Rudd over five innings, the lone run a solo homer from Yunior Garcia. Garcia’s first homer at the High-A level, the 21-year-old went 2-4.

In the middle innings, Jack Dreyer and Reinaldo De Paula worked scoreless frames. Dreyer stranded two in the fourth. De Paula struck out five batters over two innings, in his 2023 debut.

The Loons tried to spark a comeback in the seventh and eighth innings.

Down 5-1 in the seventh, Dalton Rushing lofted a ball to shallow center. Yeiner Fernandez followed up with a double off the left-center field wall, his second straight game with a run batted in. Yunior Garcia singled to put runners on the corners, but Dayton pitcher Myles Gayman forced a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

In the eighth with two outs, Austin Gauthier notched his second hit of the game a double to straight away centerfield. Alex Freeland then singled to right field to bring the score to 5-3.

After a scoreless seventh, Julian Smith couldn’t contain the Dragons in the eighth. A hit-by-pitch and walk put two on and Aldry Acosta in. A sacrifice fly and dropped strike plated two runs.

The Loons and Dragons play game three of the six-game series tomorrow Thursday, April 13th, with a 7:05 first pitch from Day Air Ballpark.

The Great Lakes Loons have been the Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers since the team’s inception in 2007. Dow Diamond serves as the team’s home and also houses the Michigan Baseball Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity, and ESPN 100.9-FM. For tickets or information about the Loons, call 989-837-BALL or visit Loons.com.