The Dragons took an early lead in the top of the second when Cerda tripled and scored on a single through the middle by Alex McGarry. Fort Wayne responded with single runs in the bottom of the second and third to take a 2-1 lead.
The Dragons briefly regained the lead in the top of the fourth, getting four consecutive hits from McGarry, Jack Rogers, Yang, and Jonathan Willems to plate two runs. The hits by McGarry and Willems were doubles as Dayton jumped ahead 3-2. Fort Wayne tied the game with a run in the fifth.
The Dragons jumped back ahead in the sixth inning, taking advantage of two walks and five wild pitches by Fort Wayne reliever Austin Smith. Dayton added another run in the sixth when they loaded the bases with no outs and Rogers hit into a double play to bring in Juan Martinez to make it 6-3.
Fort Wayne scored two runs in the seventh and had the bases loaded when the Dragons called upon reliever Pedro Garcia to work out the jam. Garcia struck out the first batter he faced to end the threat and then pitched a perfect eighth inning.
The Dragons added two more in the top of the ninth to go ahead 8-5 as Cerda started the rally with his fifth double in five games. Andy Fisher entered the game to pitch the bottom of the ninth and allowed one run but prevented Fort Wayne from putting the tying run on base to earn his first save.
Carson Spiers (5-3), the Dragons starting pitcher, earned the win, going five innings and allowing three runs on four hits with three walks, two hit batsmen, and four strikeouts.
McGarry and Rogers each had two hits for Dayton.
TUESDAY’S GAME
Lansing at Dayton, 7:05 p.m., 980