Extra-innings setback continues Dragons’ skid

Sunday’s loss extends the dismal streak at Fifth Third Field to 13.

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By Sean McClelland, Staff Writer 12:43 AM Monday, July 26, 2010

DAYTON — For nearly a month there has been no joy in the Dayton Dragons’ clubhouse after home games. Players shower and dress in virtual silence, then go their separate ways.

It looked like that might change on Sunday, July 25, when the Dragons took a 5-2 lead into the seventh inning.

It looked that way again when it was 5-5 in the ninth and they had the bases loaded with one out. And again in the 14th, when they posted a runner at third with nobody out.

But the Quad Cities River Bandits, ignoring numerous cues to fold, plated three runs in the 16th to win 8-5 in bizarre fashion and extend the Dragons’ franchise record for consecutive Fifth Third Field losses to 13.

Ezequiel Infante, the sixth Dayton pitcher, walked the bases full in the 16th and all three runners scored with two out when a lazy pop fell in the vicinity of center fielder Andrew Means, who lost it in the lights as this 4 p.m. start by then was turning into a night game.

“It’s pretty impossible right at twilight,” said right fielder Ryan LaMarre, who initially thought he had a play on the ball. “When it gets up over the lights, it’s game over.”

It was, literally in this case.

“Tough way to lose, whether it’s nine innings or 16,” Dragons manager Todd Benzinger said. “Especially since we played pretty well.”

In the home 16th, when Cameron Satterwhite fanned for the final out, the few hundred or so who stuck around for the five-hour, 21-minute marathon released a collective groan and a couple of boos.

The lengthiest game of the season by innings and time, it ended two innings short of the longest in team history. The Dragons, now 8-20 in the second half, have lost 12 of 13 overall and five straight on this home stand.

“We’re having a rough time, some rough days,” outfielder Alex Oliveras said. “What can you do? It was Sunday, but Sunday wasn’t fun day.”

Contact this reporter at  (937) 225-2408 or  

smcclelland@DaytonDailyNews.com.

River Bandits 8, Dragons 5 (16 innings)

HIGHLIGHTS: First baseman Jonathan Kaskow picked a good time for his first Midwest League home run, increasing the Dragons’ lead to 5-2 with a bases-empty shot in the sixth. Mark Fleury and Andrew Means each had two hits and drove in a pair. The Dragons stole five bases.

TURNING POINT: In the ninth inning, Means walked, Ryan LaMarre (three hits) bunted his way on and Henry Rodriguez executed a perfect sacrifice. But neither Cameron Satterwhite nor Frank Pfister could come through with a game-winning hit.

PITCHING STORY: Jacob Johnson, a 19-year-old right-hander from Lake Worth, Fla., held Quad Cities to two runs over six innings. Kevin Arico then added to the Dragons’ Midwest League-leading blown save total (22) by allowing three runs in an inning and two-thirds, including a tying homer to Edgar Lara in the eighth. First baseman Tommy Nurre, who pitched some at Miami University, was warming up in the 16th in case the game continued.

ON DECK: Ricky Bowen (2-4, 4.81 ERA) follows Homer Bailey to the mound tonight as the Dragons try to salvage a game from Quad Cities and win at home for the first time since June 28.

— Sean McClelland, staff writer

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