Fort Wayne scored one run in the seventh and after a 33-minute rain delay in the bottom of the eighth, they added another to make it 4-3. Dragons reliever Ricky Karcher notched a strikeout to end the threat and strand runners at second and third.
In the bottom of the ninth, Karcher issued a lead-off walk to Ilarraza, who stole second. Karcher struck out Chris Givin for the first out, and when Ilarraza tried to steal third, Dragons catcher James Free threw him out for the second out of the inning. The next batter, Grant Little, reached on an error but Karcher struck out Fort Wayne’s top power threat, Agustin Ruiz, to end the game.
Dragons starting pitcher Jacques Pucheu went five innings and struck out a season-high nine batters while allowing just two hits and one run. Dragons reliever John Ghyzel was credited with the win, and Karcher picked up his third save.
The Dragons remained 1 1/2 games behind the Great Lakes Loons in the East Division of the High-A Central League. Lake County is in third place, three games out of first.