Dragons Finish First Half with Winning Record, Topping West Michigan 7-1 on Thursday

Dragons 7, West Michigan 1

Click here for the box score

Dayton (R-H-E): 7-6-0; West Michigan (R-H-E): 1-6-2

Win: Joseph Menefee (2-2); Loss: Carlos Marcano (1-6); Save: None

HR: Dayton: None HR: West Michigan: None

Grand Rapids, Mich.—Dayton pitchers Jose Franco, Joseph Menefee, and Pedro Alfonseca combined to scatter six hits without issuing a walk as the Dragons defeated the West Michigan Whitecaps 7-1 on Thursday night.

The contest was the final game of the First Half season in the Midwest League’s split-season format. The Dragons finished the first half with a record of 34-32. The Dragons and Whitecaps will open the Second Half season on Friday. All Midwest League teams will clear their records to 0-0 heading into Friday and play a 66-game second half.

Game Summary:

The Dragons took the lead with one run in the top of the second inning. Hector Rodriguez lined a double to start the inning and scored on a two-out double to right field by Victor Acosta. West Michigan tied the game with a run in the bottom of the second.

The Dragons took advantage of a West Michigan error to take the lead for good in the third. Yan Contreras singled to start the inning and Jay Allen followed with a ground ball to second. West Michigan’s Max Anderson fielded the ball but threw wide of the bag at second, allowing Contreras to go to third as Allen went to second. Carlos Jorge followed with a two-run single to center to give the Dragons a 3-1 lead.

The Dragons added four more runs in the seventh to close out the scoring. The inning was keyed by a run-scoring triple by Cade Hunter as the Dragons took advantage of two hit batsmen and a walk while stealing three bases in the inning to extend their lead to 7-1.

Meanwhile, Dayton reliever Joseph Menefee enjoyed his best outing of the season. Entering the game to start the fourth inning, Menefee retired 12 of the 13 batters he faced, allowing only one hit, a single, while striking out six in four scoreless innings. Menefee (2-2) posted his longest outing of the season on a night when the Dragons bullpen was shorthanded. Pedro Alfonseca followed Menefee with two innings of scoreless relief, allowing two hits with one strikeout.

Dragons starting pitcher Jose Franco has been limited to three innings per start as he returns from Tommy John surgery. Franco worked three good innings on Thursday, allowing three hits (all infield singles) and one run with no walks and three strikeouts.

The Dragons finished the night with six hits including four extra base hits. Hunter had a triple while Rodriguez, Acosta, and Cam Collier each had a double.

Notes: The Dragons finished the first half by going 21-13 over their last 34 games, the best record in the East Division during that period…The Dragons 34-32 first half record marked their fourth straight year with a winning percentage of .500 or better in the opening half season.

Up Next: The Dragons play at West Michigan in the Second Half opener and the fourth game of the six-game series on Friday night at 6:35 pm. Ryan Cardona (3-3, 4.28) will pitch for the Dragons against West Michigan’s Jaden Hamm (1-1, 2.13).

The next Dragons home game is Monday, July 1 at 7:05 pm against the Lake County Captains 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.

Scheduling Note: Please note the special scheduling on the next homestand at Day Air Ballpark beginning Monday, July 1:

1. There will be a game on Monday, which is normally an off-day (July 1). The series includes games Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (July 1-3).
2. The Wednesday, July 3 game (final game of the homestand) will start at the special start time of 5:35 p.m. The other games start at 7:05 pm.

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.