DRAGONS 7, FORT WAYNE 3
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Dayton (R-H-E): 7-12-0; Fort Wayne (R-H-E): 3-6-2
Win: Mason Morris (1-0); Loss: Kannon Kemp (1-2); Save: None
HR: Dayton: Ty Doucette (5th, 1 on base in first inning); John Michael Faile (12th, 1 on base in third inning); Ryan McCrystal (4th, 1 on base in fourth inning); Jacob Friend (13th, 0 on base in fifth inning). HR: Fort Wayne: None
**Fort Wayne, Ind.**—John Michale Faile and Ryan McCrystal each had three hits including a home run as the Dayton Dragons defeated the Fort Wayne TinCaps 7-3 on Saturday night. The Dragons have won four of the first five games in the series that will conclude on Sunday afternoon.
Faile’s home run was the 29th of his Dragons career, leaving him only one short of the all-time Dragons club record set by Chris Williamson from 2000-02. The Dragons have seven games to play.
Dragons starting pitcher Mason Morris, a 2025 third round draft pick making his High-A debut, was exceptionally good. He got into a groove and retired 13 straight batters at one point, facing the minimum 15 hitters over the first five innings. Morris worked five and two-thirds, allowing one run on two hits with two walks and four strikeouts to earn the win.
Recap: The Dragons hit four home runs in the game including three two-run homers. The first home run came in the top of the first inning off the bat of Ty Doucette, his third homer of the week, to make it 2-0.
The Dragons added two more runs in the third inning when Faile blasted a two-run homer, his 12th of the year, putting him one homer away from the Dragons career record set 24 years ago. Ryan McCrystal hit a two-run home run in the fourth to put the Dragons in front 6-0. The homer was McCrystal’s fourth of the season.
Dayton’s Jacob Friend launched a long solo home run in the fifth that appeared to leave the ballpark as the Dragons jumped ahead 7-0. Friend’s home run was his 13th with the Dragons and his 22nd in the Reds farm system this season, tied for third most in the organization behind Carter Graham (28) and Hector Rodriguez (27).
Fort Wayne mounted a comeback and eventually got the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning. They scored one in the sixth and two in the seventh to make it 7-3. Dragons reliever Jordan Little entered the game with no outs in the seventh and a runner on base and notched three straight strikeouts to prevent the TinCaps from getting closer, and Little worked a perfect eighth inning as well. Dragons closer Trent Hodgdon pitched the ninth and ran into some trouble, allowing two walks and a bloop single as Fort Wayne loaded the bases with one out, but Hodgdon got a pop-out and a strikeout to end the game.
The Dragons finished with 12 hits. Both Faile and McCrystal were a triple shy of the cycle. Doucette and Eric Becker both extended hitting streaks to 10 straight games.
Up Next: The Dragons (25-32, 64-59) close out the six-game series in Fort Wayne on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 pm against the TinCaps (24-33, 51-72). Deivi Villafana (0-3, 7.30) 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.