Dayton wins third straight, extends lead in playoff race

The Dayton win coupled with a West Michigan loss increased the Dragons lead to1 1/2 games in the second-half playoff race. There are 20 games to play.

Neither starting pitcher allowed a run as the game was scoreless through the first five innings. Dayton starter Jose Franco was exceptional, firing four dominant innings. Franco allowed only one base runner, a walk, while striking out seven of the 12 batters he faced over four no-hit innings.

In the top of the sixth inning, Faile hit a solo home run to center field in his second game with the Dragons. Faile’s home run gave the Dragons a 1-0 lead, but Fort Wayne scored one run in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game again.

In the seventh, the first three Dragons hitters reached base when Hector Rodriguez drew a lead-off walk, Leo Balcazar singled, and Ethan O’Donnell reached on a bunt hit to load the bases. Collier followed with a bouncer through the middle to drive in both Rodriguez and Balcazar and give the Dragons a 3-1 lead. O’Donnell scored later in the inning on Cade Hunter’s run-scoring fielder’s choice play to make it 4-1.

The Dragons added two runs in the top of the eighth when Victor Acosta doubled, went to third on Connor Burns’ sacrifice bunt, and scored on a triple by Rodriguez to make it 5-1. Rodriguez scored on a wild pitch to give the Dragons a 6-1 lead.

Fort Wayne’s Joshua Mears hit a two-out, three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth to pull the TinCaps to within two runs at 6-4.

In the bottom of the ninth, Fort Wayne’s Ethan Long belted a lead-off home run to make it 6-5. But Rodriguez made a good running catch in deep right field for the first out, reliever Dylan Simmons got a strikeout for the second out, and Collier made an excellent charging, bare-handed play at third with an accurate off-balance throw to first to get the third out and end the game.

The Dragons finished with 13 hits after collecting 18 on Thursday. O’Donnell was 3 for 5. Balcazar had two hits to extend his hitting streak to 15 straight games, longest by a Dayton player since Francisco Urbaez hit in 15 straight in 2021.

Bryce Hubbart (4-5) was credited with the win in relief. He worked three innings, allowing one run on five hits with a walk and three strikeouts.

SUNDAY’S GAME

Dayton at Fort Wayne, 1:05 p.m.