DRAGONS 7, QUAD CITIES 1
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Dayton (R-H-E): 7-11-1; Quad Cities (R-H-E): 1-2-1
Win: Stharlin Torres (1-0); Loss: Blake Wolters (3-8); Save: David Lorduy (1)
HR: Dayton: Justin Lebron (4th, 0 on base in fourth inning); John Michael Faile (10th, 0 on base in fifth inning); Ryan McCrystal (3rd, 0 on base in seventh inning).  HR: Quad Cities: None
Dayton, Ohio—Justin Lebron hit his fourth home run in his last five games and three Dayton pitchers combined to allow just two hits as the Dragons defeated the Quad Cities River Bandits 7-1 on Thursday night. The Dragons snapped the River Bandits’ seven-game winning streak by winning for the first time in the third game of the six-game set.
A crowd of 7,521 was in attendance at Day Air Ballpark.
Recap: The Dragons started the scoring with four runs in the third inning, getting five straight hits after one man was out. Justin Lebron doubled to the left field bullpen area to start the rally and Ryan McCrystal followed with a single to left to move Lebron to third. Tyson Lewis lined a hard single to center field to drive in Lebron and make it 1-0. John Michael Faile followed with a ground ball single to center to drive in McCrystal from second with Lewis advancing to third on the play and Faile taking second on the throw home. With the infield in, Ty Doucette hit a bouncer toward the shortstop, who tried to make a barehanded pickup could not make the play and the ball carried through into left-center field, allowing both Lewis and Faile to score to make it 4-0.
The Dragons added three solo home runs over the next four innings to build their lead. Lebron blasted a 407’ homer to center field in the fourth, his fourth in eight professional games. Faile hit an opposite field homer in the fifth, his 10th of the year and 27th of his Dragons career, three short of the club record of 30 by Chris Williamson (2000-02). McCrystal crushed a home run to right field in the seventh, his third of the season.Â
Lebron, the Reds first round draft pick in July, has been on a roll.
“I'm seeing the ball pretty well right now,” he said. “Been working on some things, staying to the middle part of the field, so I'm just kind of seeing the ball, hitting the ball. Just staying through the middle part of the field, staying on my legs, just kind of letting my upper body do the rest. Feels amazing, you know, first win here. I hope that we can keep tacking on.”Â
Dragons starting pitcher Edgar Colon worked the first four innings without allowing a hit and striking out five. Stharlin Torres worked the next two innings, also holding the River Bandits without a hit and striking out four. David Lorduy entered the game to start the seventh and struck out the first batter he faced before Erick Torres broke up the no-hit bid with a bloop hit to shallow right field that landed fair by about a foot, just beyond the reach of three different Dayton defenders who converged on the ball. Torres eventually scored on a groundout for the only Quad Cities run of the night. The River Bandits added one more hit, a solid single to left in the eighth by Nolan Sailors.
The Dragons finished with 11 hits. The first five batters in their order, Lebron, McCrystal, Lewis, Faile, and Doucette each had two hits.
Up Next: The Dragons (21-28, 60-55) continue their six-game series with Quad Cities (30-19, 60-52) with the fourth game of the set on Friday night at 7:05 pm at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District. Kyle McCoy (4-4, 5.50) will start for Dayton. For ticket information, go to daytondragons.com/tickets or call (937) 228-2287.
On the Air: Friday’s game will be televised on Dayton’s CW (Channel 26; Spectrum Cable channels 13 and 1013). 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.