Reds’ DeSclafani pounded in Dragons loss, but Siri streak rolls on

Jose Siri continued his hitting streak Thursday, but the Dayton Dragons had little other offense in a 16-5 loss to the Great Lakes Loons. It’s the sixth consecutive defeat for the Dragons (54-56) and their eighth in the last nine games.

»RELATED: Dragons rally around Siri’s streak

It was over shortly after Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani took the mound. DeSclafani was making his second rehab appearance in the last five days and was annihilated by the Loons. He gave up three singles, two doubles and three home runs before he was pulled with a 7-0 deficit.

Jesse Stallings replaced DeSclafani, and Great Lakes added four more runs to go ahead 11-0 before Dayton came to bat.

DeSclafani, who has yet to pitch in the big leagues this season, strained an ulnar collateral ligament in spring training and was getting in shape to join the Reds. He pitched four scoreless innings against Fort Wayne on Saturday, but any speedy return to Cincinnati seems unlikely now.

DeSclafani was examined by trainers on the mound before being removed. He was examined by a team doctor and emerged from the locker room with a dejected look before quickly darting up a stairwell. The Reds later announced on Twitter he had right forearm discomfort and will be examined in Cincinnati on Friday.

Siri extended his Midwest League-record hitting streak to 39 games with a double off the center field wall in the eighth inning. The Dragons had one hit and trailed 15-0 entering the eighth but collected six hits in the inning. Siri, who had been 0 for 3 with two strikeouts, drove in three runs with his double, and Taylor Sparks and Taylor Trammell added RBI singles.

The game was a home run fest by the Loons. Outfielders Cody Thomas and Carlos Rincon hit back-to-back home runs twice in the first inning. Such an occurrence is rare in professional baseball. It’s happened only once before in the major leagues, when Bret Boone and Mike Cameron hit a pair of back-to-back home runs in the same inning for the White Sox in 2002.

Jared Walker also hit a home run in the first inning, and Thomas added his third home run in the fifth. The Loons finished with 16 hits compared to seven by the Dragons.

It was DeSclafani’s second rehab assignment with the Dragons in the last two years. He strained his oblique muscle in March 2016 and didn’t return to Cincinnati’s rotation until mid-June. He had a 9-5 record and 3.28 ERA in 20 games and looked to be one of the Reds best starters this season before tearing his UCL.

On deck: Dayton and Great Lakes will wrap up the three-game series on Friday night at Fifth Third Field. Scott Moss (11-5, 3.50 ERA) will start for the Dragons against Dustin May (6-6, 4.24) of the Loons.

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