On Friday, with a two-run lead in the fifth inning, it was Alex McGarry’s turn with a two-run double to seize the momentum. The Dragons won their season-high fifth straight game, putting away West Michigan 7-3 at Day Air Ballpark.
The Dragons (34-23) lead Lake County by 2.5 games and Great Lakes by 3.5 in the East Division of the High-A Central League.
“It makes it more exciting showing up to the ballgame every day knowing that we’re in every ballgame, we’re competing, we’ve got a chance to win every ballgame,” McGarry said. “There’s good energy in the clubhouse.”
In addition to McGarry, Quin Cotton and Miguel Hernandez had RBI singles and Victor Ruiz and RBI double. Eduardo Salazar (2-2) allowed one run on five hits, walked none and struck out seven in six innings. Tyler Garbee allowed a solo homer in two innings and Daniel Duarte pitched a scoreless ninth.
When the game ended, the players didn’t rush off to the clubhouse. They celebrated the win and some visited with family members through the net that surrounds the field while others signed autographs.
“The kids are playing really good baseball, and when you win everything is fun,” Dragons manager Jose Moreno said. “So we try to create that atmosphere and environment that anytime you go to the ballpark you are expecting to win.”
McGarry, a left-handed power hitter, joined the Dragons on May 21 and hit well for a while. Then, as all hitters do, cooled off. He hopes the two hits he got Friday are the end to a 1-for-16 slump.
Both of McGarry’s hits were to the opposite field and the double sailed over the left fielder’s head. Hitting coach Daryle Ward, who was also a left-handed power hitter, tells McGarry not to fight going the other way.
“The first at-bat everything was away,” he said of a strikeout. “That’s where I’ve been getting pitched recently so I finally just sold out for a pitch that way. If you’re not selling out for the pitch away, you won’t be able to hit. That’s the nature of hitting.”
Francisco Urbaez has been hot for a month, hitting the ball hard to all fields to raise his average to .331.
“McGarry was trying to pull everything, but today he had some real good contact, some RBIs and was hitting the ball to other side,” Moreno said. “At some point pitchers will say I have to change my approach against him and I have to pitch inside. But that’s the pitch that he can handle because that’s what he likes. So that’s the adjustment a hitter has to make.”
Leadoff hitter Jacob Hurtubise has had a similar experience. He started slow, got hot, cooled off and feels confident again. He’s 5-for-17 in this series.
“I’m trying to find that middle ground where I can be consistent day in and day out,” he said. “I’m feeling good right now, seeing the ball well and trying to swing at the pitches I can drive.”
Triple threat: Hurtubise isn’t a home-run hitter, but when he hits one to the wall his speed takes over. Hurtubise tripled for the second straight night and has a team-high three.
“Any time I see the ball go over the outfielder’s head, I’m like, automatic triple,” said Hurtubise, who is hitting .281 with a .418 on-base percentage.
Attendance oddity: No surprise that the Dragons drew a season-high crowd on a Friday night. However, the crowd numbered the same – 7,129 – as Tuesday night’s crowd.
Roster addition: Infielder Reyny Reyes is the newest Dragon after being sent down from Double-A Chattanooga. The Dragons roster is at 29 players, one below the High-A Central League limit.
Reyes, 22 and a 2016 signee from the Dominican Republic, began the season in Low-A Daytona. He hit .236 in 25 games with one homer and 10 RBIs. He went to Chattanooga for two games and was 1-for-4.
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