Fort Wayne Wizards at Dayton Dragons
April 4th, 2002
| Fort Wayne |
|
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
1 |
4 |
1 |
| Dayton |
|
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
4 |
0 |
X |
|
|
4 |
7 |
1 |
E-Trzesniak, Gillman, LOB FW-5, DAY-4, 2B-Encarnacion, 3B-Varner, Campana, SB-Trzesniak, Nina, Varner, CS-Hellman, Aquino, Nina, HBP-Aquino
HB-Gillman, WP-Cracker, SO-Anderson, Barfield, Hastings 3, Benick, Knott 3, Trzesniak, Ervin 2, Nina, Williamson 2, Davis, Hurtado, Prince, Patchett, BB-Knott, Trzesniak, Williamson, Prince
T-2:26, A-8,754
Dayton Daily News
by Marc Katz
It worked out just the way Dayton Dragons manager Donnie Scott expected Thursday Night.
Two runners were on by walk and single when a wild pitch moved then over. Another walk loaded the bases in the seventh, and Scott looked into the dugout calling Wandel Campana to pinch hit for Gary Patchett.
It was a gut feeling. "Im going to utilize everybody," Scott said, "That's not to say 'Patch' can't do it"
A year ago, some slugger would have approached the plate and Scott would have kept his hands in his back pockets, it was cold enough for him to wear gloves, and waited for a dinger or a strikeout. This year, he's looking for the well placed hit, and Campana gave it to him.
An All Star second baseman last season, Campana began this one as a shortstop who didn't even make the Opening Day lineup. Instead, he made the Opening Day scrapbook.
Campana banged a hit halfway down the right field line that went for a triple, clearing the bases on the way to a 4-1 victory by the Dragons over the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Wizards in front of 8,754 at Fifth Third Field.
"They battled, and that's what this club is made of," Scott said, "They're going to put the ball in play."
Campana was confident he could do that, "I knew I would be in the game," Campana said, "I know what I can do, I was ready. It was an outside fastball, and I didn't try to pull it."
At the time, the Dragons trailed 1-0 after the Wizards scored with a walk and two singles in the seventh, the second single by Nick Trzesniak that center fielder Amaurys Nina almost nabbed with a diving catch.
Dayton start Justin Gillman didn't allow any runs, pitching six strong innings. He struck out eight, walked one and allowed just two hits, both in the fourth. After the second hit, he struck out the next two batters.,br>
"I felt really nervous in the first inning," said Gillman, only 18 years old and less than a year removed from A. Crawford Moseley High School in Panana City, Fla. "I knew it was going to be sold out. I didn't know it would be that nerve wracking. It's just a great feeling to be out there with the players we have."
Nerve wracking or not, Gillman struck out the first batter he faced and had two strikeouts in the first inning. He struck out the side in the second when he issued his only walk.
"I may have struck out two, but everything was up in the zone," Gillman said, "My command wasn't there, After the first inning, I was like let's go"
The relief work was good, too, Evan though Todd Coffey allowed the only run, he struck out three in two innings. Closer Nate Cotton faced the minimum three batters in the ninth.
Coffey got the win, which didn't both Gillman, "I'm glad we won the game, he said, "I was in the training room watching it on television."
They were all part of the new look Dragons, who wore sleeveless jerseys, as do the parent Reds for the first time. They had a choice of green or black undershirts, and Scott made the choice of green.
"It's new look and I wanted to try it out opening day," Scott said, "There's a good chance we'll wear green tomorrow, too."
Heater arrived on a white horse, while doves were released to the wind and a jet from the 446th Airlit Wing at Wright-Patt flew so low over Fifth Third Field it almost grazed a light pole as the Dayton Dragons opened their third Class A Midwest League Season.
As usual, the same over capacity crowd that came for every game the first two seasons was also on hand. It was treated to a mini circus and fireworks after each player and coach on the team was introduced.
Expect Changes
Don't get used to the starting lineup used by manager Donnie Scott.
"Does someone have a position out there," Scott said, "There are some kids we're looking at, like William Bergolla. He's going to get a lot of playing time (at second base), but we've got a lot of players and it's up to them. I control it a little because I make out the lineup, but the player control who plays. It will play itself out. Whoever wants it the most will play."
In the rotation, too
Not only is the starting lineup up for revision from time to time, pitching coach Ted Power says the starting rotation can be cracked at any time too.
For now, though Justin Gillman started the opener to be followed tonight by Daylan Childress, Saturday by Brad Salmon and Sunday by Steve Kelly. Justin Carter gets Monday's road opener at Fort Wayne. Cleris Severino and Gorky Batista among others are also expected to get some starts.
The solution guy
On player who didn't make the starting lineup on opening day was Domonique Lewis, who plays about anywhere he's needed, but is expected to be used mainly in the middle infield.
"I'll play pretty much everywhere," Lewis said "I like playing defense. In spring training, they were calling me the Solution Guy.
When he began playing baseball as a kid, Lewis was a centerfielder. He thinks his best position is second, but he also plays short. He played college baseball at Southwest Texas State.
Prince starts strong
Catcher Bryan Prince got off to a good start defensively. He threw out two of the first three runners who tried to steal. Prince is one of two Dragons who played at Georgia Tech. Pitcher Steve Kelly is the other. Both played with pitcher Cory Vance of Vandalla, now in the Rockies' chain.
Boutwell bruises knee
Pitcher Anyd Boutwell went bump in the night the other day, bruising his knee.
"My roommate was already sleeping and I went to the bathroom," Boutwell said, "I turned off the light so I wouldn't wake him and tried to get to my bed. I didn't make it."
He hit his knee against a wall. Ice for a day or two will take care of it.