QUAD CITIES 8, DRAGONS 5
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Quad Cities (R-H-E): 8-10-1; Dayton (R-H-E): 5-11-1
Win: Rob Hensey (3-0); Loss: JP Ortiz (5-2); Save: None
HR: Dayton: Justin Lebron (5th, 0 on base in third inning); Jack Lausch (1st, 1 on base in ninth inning); Eric Becker (2nd, 1 on base in ninth inning). HR: Quad Cities: Zion Rose (1st, 0 on base in fourth inning); Austin Charles (4th, 0 on base in sixth inning); Hyungchan Um (1st, 0 on base in ninth inning)
Dayton, Ohio—The Quad Cities River Bandits built an 8-1 lead and held off a Dayton comeback effort in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat the Dragons 8-5. The Bandits have won four of the first five games in the six-game series that will conclude on Sunday afternoon.
Despite the loss, the Dragons connected on three home runs to break the all-time franchise record for home runs over a full season with 153. The previous record of 152 was set in 2022 by a Dragons team led by Elly De La Cruz.
A crowd of 8,562 was in attendance at Day Air Ballpark.
Recap: Dayton’s Justin Lebron hit a solo home run in the third inning to start the scoring. The homer was the fifth for Lebron in just 10 games of his professional career.
Quad Cities tied the game in the fourth on the first career home run by Zion Rose, who, like Lebron, was a first round draft pick in July. The River Bandits then added three more runs in the fifth to take the lead, and added single runs in the sixth and seventh to increase their lead to 6-1. The tacked on two more in the top of the ninth to build an 8-1 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Dayton’s Damian Ruiz opened the frame with his first career hit in the first game of his professional career. Jack Lausch followed with a home run to left field, also the first hit of Lausch’s career, to make it 8-3. After Lebron walked, Eric Becker belted a home run to right-center to pull the Dragons to within three runs at 8-5. The three players who hit home runs for the Dragons, Lebron, Lausch, and Becker, were all draft picks by the Reds in July, as was Ruiz.
With one out in the ninth, John Michael Faile singled to right field to bring the tying run to the on-deck circle, but Ty Doucette grounded into a game-ending double play.
The Dragons had 11 hits. Lebron, Doucette, and Jacob Friend each had two.
Up Next: The Dragons (21-30, 60-57) conclude their six-game series with Quad Cities (32-19, 62-52) on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 pm at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District. Former major league pitcher Carson Spiers will start for the Dragons on an injury rehab assignment and be followed by Ovis Portes (1-7, 9.00). 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.