Great Lakes Loons (and the Weather) Put Out Dayton Dragons, Loons Win 9-6 - A, Midwest League

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - DAYTON, OH – Parker Dalton’s career night was nearly washed away before it happened. With rain pouring down in Dayton prior to the game, the shortstop’s three hits, including his first home run of the season, led the Great Lakes Loons over the Dayton Dragons in front of 8,738 fans at Fifth Third Field by a score of 9-6.

The Loons scored more runs Thursday night than they had scored in any game all season long and did it most of it in a steady rain. With the Loons leading 1-0 in the second, Dalton lifted a two-out, RBI double into the right-center field gap scoring Kenley Jansen to make it 2-0.

Trailing 3-2 in the fourth, Dalton launched an 0-1 pitch from Dayton starter Matt Klinker over the left field wall for his first home run of 2008 to give the Loons a 4-3 lead. Leading 9-6 in the eighth, the Dragons loaded the bases with one out against Loons reliever Matt Sartor.

Interim manager Garey Ingram decided to bring in closer Miguel Ramirez who preserved the win by striking out Brandon Waring and retiring Logan Parker on a foul flyout to end the threat.

Erik Kanaby and Andrew Lambo each had three hits in the victory. Lambo and newcomer Alfredo Silverio added two RBIs for the Loons.

"It was one of those things where we really came into the game relaxed," Dalton said. "A fter that off day had a chance to come back fresh. I had been working on my hitting a lot lately with Chicken (Garey Ingram) and we had been working on putting the ball on the barrel of the bat and hit it well. With two outs this year, at times, we've been pressing, but we relaxed and hit our pitches."

Justin Miller only pitched 4 1/3 innings and allowed five runs before giving way to Jon Dutton (1-0), who pitched over an inning of relief in picking up his first win of the season.

Ramirez quelled the Dragons’ threat in the eighth and pitched a scoreless ninth and picked up his seventh save of the season.

The Loons improve to 15-17 while the Dayton falls to 18-13.

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