Dayton did not get on the scoreboard until the ninth inning. Kyle Day led off the inning with a single to center, and Kevin Coddington followed with a hit to left to move Day to second. Stephen Chapman struck out, but a wild pitch advanced Day to third and Coddington to second. Frank Pfister hit a ground ball to third that was mishandled by Fort Wayne's James Darnell for an error as Day scored to make it 2-1. Coddington held at second representing the tying run. But Andrew Means flied out to right and Dave Sappelt struck out to end the game.
Partch suffered the loss despite allowing just four hits and two runs in seven innings. He walked three and struck out two.
All five Dragons hits were singles. Miguel Rojas went 2 for 3 with a walk to lead the way.
Schmidt (3-0), a first round draft pick in 2007 out of the University of Arkansas, worked six scoreless innings and struck out nine to earn the win. He allowed just three hits and walked one.
The Dragons (24-35) battle the TinCaps (37-22) again on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. in Fort Wayne. Lance Janke (1-3, 3.53) will start for the Dragons against Erik Davis (5-1, 3.03). The next home game is Sunday at Fifth Third Field at 4:00 p.m. against the Lansing Lugnuts.