Dragons torch the Captains, 5-2

DAYTON- The Dayton Dragons (24-35) used a four run fourth inning to propel them to a 5-2 victory over the Lake County Captains (28-30) on Wednesday night at Fifth Third Field.

The Captains struck for two runs in the first off of Dragons’ starter Tanner Robles (4-3, 4.45 ERA). Centerfielder Luigi Rodriguez doubled to left to lead off the game. Robles hit shortstop Francisco Lindor with the next pitch. With one out and catcher Alex Lavisky at the dish, Robles uncorked the first of two wild pitches in the inning. The wild pitch allowed the runners to move to second and third. On ball four to Lavisky, Robles allowed Rodriguez to score with the second wild pitch. First baseman Jerrud Sabourin singled to left, plating Lindor.

Cody Anderson (4-3, 2.91) worked his way through three scoreless innings, despite scattering two walks and a hit.

Dayton scored four runs to take the lead in the fourth. Third baseman Joe Terry doubled to right field. Left fielder Steve Selsky followed with a single to centerfield. After a strikeout, right fielder Kyle Waldrop singled to left fielder Bryson Myles to score Terry. Myles could not field the ball cleanly, so Selsky and Waldrop moved up a base on the error. First baseman Sean Buckley sent a one out double into the right field corner, bringing home Selsky and Waldrop. Buckley would score on a single by designated hitter Juan Silva. Silva was thrown out stretching the single by right fielder Jordan Smith.

Anderson was hung with the loss, pitching five innings. He allowed four runs on seven hits. Two walks were allowed and two batters were out via the strikeout. Reliever Manuel Carmona relieved Anderson in the sixth.

Robles pitched six innings to get the win. He allowed two runs on three hits. Four batters walked and four were struck out. He also allowed three wild pitches and one hit batter. Michael Dennhardt followed Robles to the mound. Dennhardt pitched two perfect innings with one strikeout.

Carmona allowed a run in the seventh inning. Silva walked and stole second base. A groundout moved Silva to third base. Carmona uncorked a wild pitch, bringing home Silva. It was a 5-2 game after seven innings.

Francisco Valera relieved Carmona with a perfect eighth inning. Carmona allowed one run on no hits in two innings of work. He surrendered one walk and had three strikeouts. One wild pitch and one hit batter were charged to Carmona.

Dayton brought in their closer, Ryan Kemp to close out the ballgame in the ninth. Lake County loaded the bases with a walk and two singles. Second baseman Robel Garcia was the go-ahead run but was forced into a 6-4-3 double play. Kemp picked up his third save of the year, allowing two hits and a walk in his only inning of work.

Jordan Smith went 0-4, snapping his ten game hitting streak. The Captains had only five base hits on the night. Rodriguez had the only extra base hit for Lake County.

The Captains and Dragons will resume their three game series on Thursday night. Lake County will send LHP Shawn Morimando (1-1, 4.67 ERA) to the mound to face RHP Stalin Gerson (3-4, 4.07 ERA) for Dayton. First pitch from Fifth Third Field is set for 7:05 PM.

Tyler, a sports management student at Lake Erie College, can be found on Twitter @tstotsky63.