Lake County scored three runs in the first inning to take an early lead. They took advantage of a pair of walks to start the inning and two wild pitches later in the frame to jump ahead 3-0.
The Dragons responded with two runs in the top of the second. Allan Cerda got the rally started with a double off the left field fence. Cerda advanced to third on an infield single by Jose Torres with one out and scored on a throwing error by the catcher as Torres stole second base. Torres scored when Nick Quintana singled to center field.
The Dragons tied the game in the fifth inning when Quintana walked, stole second, and scored on a two-out single by Almora, Jr., a Triple-A player who is with the Dragons on an injury rehabilitation assignment.
In the seventh, Quintana walked with two outs, went to second on Quin Cotton’s walk, and scored on Almora’s second two-out RBI hit to give the Dragons the lead. The Dayton bullpen held Lake County scoreless the rest of the way.
Dragons starting pitcher Connor Phillips struck out eight batters over 4 1/3 innings. Phillips was charged with three runs (all in the first inning) on three hits while walking five.
Aranguren (2-0) was credited with the win, going 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Gayman entered the game to get a strikeout to end the seventh inning with a runner at third before pitching a scoreless eighth. Rudd tossed a perfect ninth inning for his first save.
Almora was 2 for 4 with two RBI. Elly De La Cruz had a single, double, and stolen base. Quintana had an RBI hit, two walks, two runs scored, and a stolen base.
SATURDAY’S GAME
Dayton at Lake County (DH), 12:05 p.m., 980