Flash player is required to view weather conditions. Download

site web  

DAYTON — After the Great Lakes parent Dodgers nixed a Dayton Dragons plan to play a day-night doubleheader next Saturday to negate Friday's rainout, the alternative was a doubleheader Saturday, May 10, with two seven-inning games at Fifth Third Field.

To schedule two nine-inning games in one day, farm directors of both teams involved must give permission. Once the Dodgers said no, the Dragons had no choice.

In game one, Great Lakes ran the bases like a bunch of Loons, which is the team's nickname, and Dayton's Logan Parker parked a grand slam way over the right field fence as the Dragons held on for a 7-6 victory.

In the second game, Great Lakes scored four in the seventh with two out to beat the Dragons, 5-2. A close safe call at first on a double play that would have ended the game in Dayton's favor extended the inning for the Loons.

In game one, the Loons denied themselves an extra run in the fourth when Scott Van Slyke tried to take second on a long fly out to Justin Reed in center, misjudging how quickly Reed could get the ball in before the Loons could score a second run in the inning.

It was loonier in the seventh, and final inning. With two out and two men on via walks, Pedro Baez doubled to left, bringing home one run while Brian Mathews was held at third, anticipating a throw home by left fielder Keltavious Jones.

Instead, Jones threw to second, where first baseman Michael McKennon ran to take the throw. By that time, Baez had crossed the bag before he noticed Mathews stopped at third.

Mathews then broke for home and McKennon easily threw him out, ending the game.

At one point, the Dragons led 7-1, with Parker doing the big damage with his second homer in as many games. He played here last season, hitting nine homers and expecting to be moved up to high Class A Sarasota. However, in the playoffs, he injured his shoulder and had to have off-season surgery.

"I knew I'd be in extended spring training at least two weeks," Parker said. "I didn't want to repeat here, but if you have to repeat a level, you might as well repeat this one. I'm comfortable here. I have the same coaching staff and you get to play in front of all these people."

At one point, Parker was intimidated by the people. Most Class A players have never played in front of crowds of 8-9,000, which is the every night occurrence at Fifth Third Field.

"They let some of us play for the Reds in that exhibition here against the Marlins last year," Parker said. "I was almost scared."

He isn't any more.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Today's Game: Loons at Dragons

Time: 2 p.m.

Radio: WING-AM (1410)

Vote for this story!