O'Donnell's Catch Gives Dragons 4-2 Win at West Michigan on Tuesday

Dragons 4, West Michigan 2

Click here for the box score

Dayton (R-H-E): 4-8-0; West Michigan (R-H-E): 2-8-0

Win: Gabriel Aguilera (1-0); Loss: Jackson Jobe (0-1); Save: John Murphy (3)

HR: Dayton: Logan Tanner (4^th, 0 on base in fifth inning). HR: West Michigan: None

Grand Rapids, Mich.—Dayton left fielder Ethan O’Donnell made a game-saving diving catch with two outs in the ninth inning as the Dragons held on to defeat the West Michigan Whitecaps 4-2 in the opener to a six-game series on Tuesday night.

Dayton starting pitcher Gabriel Aguilera, in his first day with the team after being called up from Single-A Daytona, was brilliant over five scoreless innings. Aguilera did not allow a runner past first base.

Game Summary:

The Dragons jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Cam Collier singled to start the inning and went to second when Carlos Jorge walked. After a sacrifice bunt by Ethan O’Donnell, Collier scored on a ground out by Leo Balcazar that deflected off the pitcher. Cade Hunter followed with a double to deep right-center field that brought in Jorge to make it 2-0.

In the fourth inning, Collier doubled to start the inning and scored from second on a deep sacrifice fly to center field off the bat of Jorge. After the catch was made, the center fielder lost control of the ball, allow Collier to tag and advance two bases to make it 3-0.

Logan Tanner blasted a home run to right field in the fifth to give the Dragons a 4-0 lead. The homer was Tanner’s fourth of the season.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Aguilera worked five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits (both singles) with one walk and five strikeouts. West Michigan never threatened to score against Aguilera, who joined the team early Tuesday morning after arriving from Daytona.

West Michigan scored two runs against Dayton reliever Arij Fransen in the seventh, but John Murphy entered the game to pitch a scoreless eighth inning. Murphy went back to the mound in the ninth and allowed an infield single and a two-out double that left runners at second and third. West Michigan’s Seth Stephenson then hit a line drive toward left field. O’Donnell raced straight in and made a lunging catch, holding the ball as he hit the ground, to save and end the game.

The Dragons finished the night with eight hits. Collier, Balcazar, and Henry Rodriguez each had two. Rodriguez extended his hitting streak to 10 straight games, the longest of the year for a Dayton player.

Up Next: The Dragons (32-32) play at West Michigan (31-33) in the second game of the six-game series on Wednesday night at 6:35 pm. Bryce Hubbart (1-4, 6.28) will pitch for the Dragons against West Michigan’s Joe Miller (0-1, 2.84).

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.

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.