DRAGONS 9, FORT WAYNE 3
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Dayton (R-H-E): 9-11-0; Fort Wayne (R-H-E): 3-8-4
Win: Jimmy Romano (5-3); Loss: Will Koger (0-1); Save: None
HR: Dayton: Kyle Henley (1st, 0 on base in second inning); Ty Doucette (4th, 3 on base in 10th inning). HR: Fort Wayne: Kerrington Cross (5th, 0 on base in sixth inning).
**Fort Wayne, Ind.**—Ty Doucette blasted a grand slam home run to highlight a six-run 10th inning as the Dayton Dragons defeated the Fort Wayne TinCaps 9-3 on Thursday night. The game was tied 3-3 after nine innings. The Dragons have won the first three games of the six-game series.
Recap: The Dragons had a productive first inning and took an early lead. Doucette got the rally started with a hard double to left-center, and John Michael Faile drove him in with a double off the center field fence. Eric Becker followed with a slicing double to left to bring in Faile and make it 2-0.
The Dragons added another run in the second inning when Kyle Henley belted a home run to left field in his first at-bat since August 9th. Henley was activated earlier Thursday after being out 18 days with a concussion. Henley’s homer gave the Dragons a 3-0 lead.
Fort Wayne scored single runs in the second and sixth innings and then tied the game with one run in the eighth at 3-3.
The Dragons began the top of the 10th inning with free runner Eric Becker at second base. Ryan McCrystal flied out to center field, but a throwing error on the toss back to the infield on the play allowed Becker to get to third, an important advancement that forced Fort Wayne to bring the infield in for the next hitter, Damian Ruiz. Ruiz responded with a single through the middle to bring in Becker and give the Dragons a 4-3 lead. After an intentional walk to Jacob Friend, Henley lined a single to left to drive in Ruiz and make it 5-3. Justin Lebron followed with a single to left to load the bases. Doucette then lifted a knee-high 0-2 pitch over the right field fence for a grand slam home run to give the Dragons a 9-3 lead. The homer was Doucette’s fourth with the Dragons and his 14th in the Reds farm system this season. It was also the Dragons 10th grand slam of the year, twice as many as the previous club record of five.
Jimmy Romano (5-3) went the final two and two-thirds innings without allowing a hit or run to earn the win.
The Dragons had 11 hits. Lebron, Doucette, and Henley each had two.
Up Next: The Dragons (24-31, 63-58) continue the six-game series in Fort Wayne on Friday night at 7:05 with game four of the set against the TinCaps (23-32, 50-71). JP Ortiz (5-2, 5.71) will start for the Dragons.
The next Dragons home game is Tuesday, September 1 at 7:05 pm against the West Michigan Whitecaps 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.