Michigan Battle Cats at Dayton Dragons
April 18th, 2002
| Michigan |
|
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
6 |
|
|
7 |
10 |
1 |
| Dayton |
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|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
1 |
6 |
2 |
E-Stegall, Encarnacion, Frias, LOB MIC-6, DAY-6, 2B-Rodriguez 2, Conrad, Stegall, Nina, SB-Nina, HBP-Shelf, SACB-Obradovich, Bergolla
HB-Frias, WP-Coffey, SO-Conrad, Lentini, Checksfield, Hodges, Varner 2, Davis 2, Encarnacion 2, Williamson 2, BB-Conrad, Varner, Campana
Battle Creek Enquirer
The Cats erupted for six runs in the top of the ninth inning to break open a tie game and earn a 7-1 road victory at Dayton in Midwest League play on Thursday.
The inning featured two run doubles by both Ryan Stegall and Brooks Conrad to go with a hit batter, a Dayton error and singles by Steve Checksfield, Mark Obradovich and Mike Rodriguez.
Rodriguez continued his hot hitting, going 3 for 5 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI. Obradovich contributed two hits, two runs scored and and RBI.
That duo produced the Cats only other run, when a Rodriguez double scored Obradovich who had reached on a single in the fifth inning.
Jory Coughenour got the win in relief of Monte Mansfield who had an excellent start.
Mansfield allowed just three hits and no earned runs in six innings while striking out seven in the no decision.
Russ Rohlicek will start today as the Cats (10-4) look to take three of four for the Dragons in a 7pm game.
Dayton Daily News
by Marc Katz
What had been a well played major league quality pitching duel disintegrated into a Class A Midwest League mess for the Dayton Dragons in the ninth inning of their game with the Michigan Battle Cats on Thursday night.
Michigan starter Monte Mansfield baffled the Dragons through six innings, allowing just three hits and no runs while Dayton starter Steve Kelly was almost as good through 7 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and a single run.
Both were icing their arms when the ninth began in a 1-1 tie and ended in a 7-1 Michigan victory in front of 7,936 at Fifth Third Field.
Relief pitching was the culpit with a couple of slips by left hander Juan Frias creating an opening for the Batte Cats to score six runs.
Frias, who replaced Kelly and got out of the eighth facing three batters (two outs and a walk), hit Todd Shelf in the back to lead the ninth on a pitch he said slipped out of his hand. After a single put runners on first and second. Trevor Mote bunted toward, the third base side of the mound, which is what Dayton manager Donnie Scott thought he would do.
Scott also thought Frias was just the guy he needed in the situation, and when the pitcher picked up the bunt cleanly and squared to throw to Edwin Encarnacion at third for the force, all looked well.
It wasn't, Frias fired the ball over Encarnacion's head to score one run and the Battle Cats tagged on four more hits against a draw in infield on Todd Coffey as they scored five additional runs, one with the help of a wild pitch.
"He's our best athlete among the pitchers," Scott said of Frias. "Ninety-nine out of 100 times he's going to make that play (at third), That's why i left him in there."
The problem was initially Encarnacion came in on the ball too and was backing to the bag when Frias picked up the ball.
"He wasn't on the bag yet," Frias said, "He was going back to the bag and I held the ball."
Frias made the same kind of play last week against Fort Wayne completing it flawlessly.
Dragon Tales
Scott took a little ribbing from coach Brian Conley after he sent Bryan Prince home on a hit to left Wednesday. Prince was thrown out by several feet and Scott said, "That left fielder made a great throw"
A picture of the tag at home was posted in the clubhouse with Scott's quote.
Scott defended himself with a smile. "I never get booed by the fans when a guy is thrown out, only when I hold him up." Scott said. "I look at it like a horse race. The guy runs around third and the fans don't want to see him hold up. They want to see the finish the race.