DRAGONS 6, LAKE COUNTY 5
Click here for the box score
Dayton (R-H-E): 6-11-1; Lake County (R-H-E): 5-9-0
Win: JP Ortiz (5-1); Loss: Will McCausland (1-4); Save: Trent Hodgdon (10)
HR: Dayton: Justin Lebron (2nd, 3 on base in second inning). HR: Lake County: None
Eastlake, Ohio—Justin Lebron blasted a grand slam home run and the Dayton Dragons held off a Lake County comeback effort as they held on to defeat the Captains 6-5 on Saturday night. The Dragons held a five-run lead through five innings before Lake County started back, eventually pulling to within one run before leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning. Lake County has won four of the first six games in a seven-game series.
Recap: The Dragons scored five runs in the second inning to jump out to a 5-0 lead. Dayton loaded the bases on three straight singles by Alfredo Alcantara, Esmith Pineda, and Jacob Friend, and Eric Becker was hit by a pitch to force in the game’s first run. Justin Lebron followed with a grand slam home run to left-center field, his second professional homer in just his fifth game, to give Dayton a 5-0 lead.
Lake County scored one run in the bottom of the second before the Dragons scored in the fifth when Tyson Lewis singled, stole second, and scored on Mason Neville’s single to right to make it 6-1.
Dragons starting pitcher JP Ortiz pitched well and left the game with a 6-1 lead. He worked five innings, allowing two hits and three walks, one run, with six strikeouts.
Lake County scored two runs in the sixth, one in the seventh, and one in the eighth to pull to within a run at 6-5 going to the ninth. Dragons closer Trent Hodgdon, who had gotten the final out in the eighth, remained in the game for the ninth. Lake County put the tying run on base on a one-out walk before Hodgdon recorded a strikeout for the second out. After a base hit and another walk loaded the bases, Hodgdon got the Captains best hitter, Welbyn Francisca, to fly out to Neville in shallow center to end the game.
Ortiz (5-1) earned the win, while Hodgdon recorded his 10th save.
The Dragons finished the night with 11 hits, their highest total in a game since August 8. Lebron, Lewis, and Friend each had two hits. The grand slam by Lebron was the ninth of the season by the Dragons, far surpassing their previous club record of five in a season.
Up Next: The Dragons (20-26, 59-53) conclude their series at Lake County on Sunday at 1:00 pm against the Captains (22-24, 59-51). Ovis Portes is the Dragons scheduled starting pitcher.
The next home game at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District in Tuesday, August 18 against the Quad Cities River Bandits at 7:05 pm. 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.