Dragons fall to Hot Rods

Dragons outfielder Mariel Bautista during opening day at Fifth Third Field, Thursday, April 4, 2019. MARC PENDLETON / STAFF

Dragons outfielder Mariel Bautista during opening day at Fifth Third Field, Thursday, April 4, 2019. MARC PENDLETON / STAFF

The Dayton Dragons managed just two hits and surrendered three home runs and walked 11 batters Sunday in a 13-2 loss at Bowling Green.

The Dragons and Hot Rods split the first four games of the season.

Mariel Bautista had a double and two RBIs to lead Dayton. Bautista has hit safely in each of the first four games and is hitting .429.

Dayton grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Michael Siani opened the game with a single, stole second and third and scored on Bautista’s sacrifice fly.

Bowling Green answered with Connor Hollis’ two-run home run in the bottom of the first and added another two-run shot from Grant Witherspoon in the fifth to make it 5-1.

Another Bautista sac fly made it 5-2 in the sixth, but the Hot Rods scored four in the seventh, highlighted by a two-run homer by Osmy Gregorio to make it 9-2.

Bowling Green added the final four runs in the eighth, taking advantage of six Dragons walks in the inning, which tied a Dayton record set in 2009. Utility infielder Dylan Harris got the final out of the inning.

Starter James Marinan (0-1) took the loss. He worked four innings, allowed three runs on eight hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Dayton relievers allowed 10 runs and walked 10 batters.

Dayton remains on the road and opens a four-game series on Monday at Fort Wayne (2-2) at 7:05 p.m. Lyon Richardson, the Reds second round pick in 2018, will make the start for Dayton.

The Dragons return home Friday against Lake City.

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