Dragons close to being eliminated from first-half playoff race

The Dayton Dragons could tie a new franchise record for most wins in a half season of play this weekend, but they could also be eliminated from the first-half playoff race as well. The latter seems more likely after Bowling Green rolled to an 11-4 win in the series opener at Fifth Third Field on Friday night.

The game was delayed for 91 minutes before Dragons starter Tyler Mondile threw the first pitch, and it didn’t take long for the Hot Rods to get it in gear.

Vidal Brujan led off the game with a home run to right field, and moments later Taylor Walls followed with an opposite field drive over the wall in left field for an early 2-0 lead for the visitors.

Dayton got one of the runs back in the top of the third inning when Leandro Santana delivered a solo home run into the lawn seats in right field, but that’s as close as it got for the home team.

Bowling Green scored five times in the top of the fifth inning, fueled by two more home runs off the bats of Ronaldo Hernandez and Devin Davis to take a 7-1 lead.

Davis added another home run in a two-run sixth inning as the Hot Rods banged out 17 hits on the night including five home runs.

Dayton’s elimination number in the first half is now down to two after second-place Lansing lost at Ft. Wayne on Friday night. Any combination of Dragons losses and Lansing wins totaling two will eliminate Dayton (29-30) from the Midwest League Eastern Division race.

Hunter Greene goes back to the mound Saturday in search of his second straight win. The 18-year old is coming off his first professional win last Sunday when he gave up one run on two hits in a five inning effort.

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