Riding a four game winning streak in the difficult David Lynn division, the Dragons had another challenging day ahead.

First up, Alexander’s Trash Pandas who plated 3 runs in the top of the first.  The home part of the inning started with a bit of a lineup shake up with Sheldon Fulton now anchoring the leadoff spot.  Fulton responded well with a leadoff double and scored when #2 hitter Ari Loiben also doubled.  Daryl Drake then blasted his 13 homer of the year as the Dragons tied the game at 3.

After a scoreless second inning, the Trash Pandas scored two in the top of the 3rd, while Drake added yet another RBI in the bottom and the Dragons now trailed by 1.  After another scoreless top, the Dragons bottom came up big.  Adwild Perez walked in a run and Jerry Rogers had an RBI sac fly.  6-5 Dragons going into the 5th.

The Trash Pandas came out swinging in the 5th, led by a Joshua Forniglia bomb, scoring 5 runs.  But you see, these Dragons don’t quit.  The Dragons batted 11 in the bottom of the 5th.  Fulton once again with a lead off hit, followed by a Loiben double and Drake single.  Tim Kaminski singled, Kevin Knox with an RBI sac fly, Gary Frank with his 3rd single of the game, then the big hit, a John Unell 2-run single.  12-10 Dragons.

After a scoreless 6th, the Trash Pandas once again rallied for a big 4-run inning.  However, once again, the Dragons just won’t go away.  Drake leads off the bottom of the 7th with a double.  Kaminski takes a walk.  Knox comes up with a giant 2-run double.  Knox was sacrificed to 3rd and the Pandas wisely walked  Zak Edgerton and Frank to put a force on all bases.  Up comes John Unell, needing just a little something to score Knox.  Well, that’s exactly what the veteran did.  A fielder’s choice was enough to walk off with a 15-14 win.

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From the wind blowing out to the wind blowing in, the beauty of Spirit Park.  Field 4 had the Dragons looking to take down the Tin Caps and take over the division lead. 

The visiting fire blowers started with a 3-run first with RBIs from Drake, Kaminski, and Edgerton.  However, the Tin Caps quickly responded with 2 in the bottom half.  3-2 Dragons after 1.

The Tin Caps gave the Dragons a helping hand in the 2nd with 3 errors as the Dragons scored 3 more.  The Dragon reciprocated in the bottom of the 2nd as the Caps put up 6 runs on several Dragons errors and some timely hits.  8-6 Tin Caps after 2.

After a scoreless 3rd, the Dragons scored a single run in the 4th on another Tin Caps error.  The Caps responded with 3 in the bottom and now led 11-7.

Ari Loiben led off the top of the 6th with a triple and scored easily off a Daryl Drake single, RBI 45 on the season.  Tim Kaminski awoke from a short nap and a quick smoke to unload a 3-run HR straight into the wind.  Dragons within one with the clock being the Tin Caps 13th man.

The Dragons took the field quickly and John Unell was pitching his A game.  A quick, scoreless inning was just what the Dr. Gons needed.

Here we go...all season long the Dragons have responded to adversity.  This time it started with Zak Edgerton who swiftly singled.  Ray Darragh followed with another single.  So let’s recap, runners on first and second, wind blowing in from left field and Gary Frank at the plate with no outs and down a run.  Of all the scenarios, not sure the Dragons dugout saw this coming...Frank blasts a ball to left field, beating the shallow-playing fielder for a 2-run triple!  Unfortunately, Frank was later thrown out at 3rd (a base running blunder that was clearly Daryl Drake’s fault), so on to the bottom of the 7th, now up one run.

The Tin Caps went down 1-2-3 as the Dragons won their 2nd game of the day by a single run.  The Dragons finish out the regular season with two against Rodriguez’s Aguilas.  Lots on the line for both teams.

IPOWs:

Sheldon Fulton - 5 for 7, 2-2B, 4R in first game as leadoff and lockdown RCF

Gary Frank - 5 for 6, 3B, R, 2 RBI, now batting nearly .600 with two games left.  Great day at catcher, including an incredible foul ball catch in bottom of the 6th