Fort Wayne Wizards at Dayton Dragons
April 5th, 2002
| Fort Wayne |
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|
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
|
6 |
12 |
1 |
| Dayton |
|
|
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
5 |
11 |
0 |
E-Barfield, LOB FW-5, DAY-7, 2B-Anderson, Knott, Gutierrez, Hurtado, 3B-Lewis, CS-Barfield
WP-Cassel, SO-Stockton, Trzesniak 2, Aquino, Nina, Varner, Prince, Lewis, BB-Aquino, Nina, Hurtado, Davis
U-Uyl, Rice
T-2:16, A-7,722
Dayton Daily News
by Marc Katz
On a night better suited for a November football game, the Dayton Dragons were snowed out Friday night, but only after enough innings had been played for them to loose.
Wether conditions were not good at the start, but at least it was dry. The first inning temperature was 40 degrees with a 31 degress wind chill factor, just warn enought onot scare off 7,722 second night fans.
As the game progressed, the temperature dropped, and by the fifth inning, it began to rain.
By the sixth, with the Dragons ahead 4-3, it rained harder before turning into snow flurries. unfortunately for the Dragons, Fort Wayne scored three runs in the top of the sixth, and Dayton answered with only one in the bottom as snowflakes swirled.
With one on in the top of the seventh and a ball on Fort Wayne's second batter, Jon Benick, the umpires called time at 9:30pm. Fifth minutes later, the snowy conditions had not improved, and the Dragons took an offical 6-5 loss in six innings.
"It was a kick save and a beauty that save it (for Fort Wayne)," Dayton manager Donnie Scott said, using hockey terms on a night that better fit that sport. With two on and two out in the bottom of the sixth, Dayton's Noochie Varner smacked one off pitcher Jack Cassel's toe, and the Wizards' pitcher reached it just in time to throw Varner out at first.
By then, snow was making it tought to see the field was getting sloppy.
The Dragons trailed 3-0 before they scored twice in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by William Bergolla and a double by Jesse Gutierrez.
Wandel Campana, Thursday's hero, tied the game with a run scoring single in the fourth, then an Amaurys Nine hit gave the Dragons a 4-3 lead.
By the time Gorky Batista replaced starter Daylan Childress in the sixth, it began to rain harder. By the time Batista was pulled after four hits, a walk and three Fort Wayne runs, it was snowing. Batista will get a chance to pitch under better conditions.
"It was a tough situation for the kid," Scott said of Batista, who is from the Dominican Republis, "The kid probably had never been in snow."
by Marc Kats
After Amaurys Nina's contract ran out with the Texas Rangers, there was no question where he was going to sign next as a free agent.
"My uncle told me to come with the Reds," said Nina in a mixture of Spanish and English, pronouncing 'uncle' more like 'ankle'
The uncle is Cincinnati pitcher Jose Rijo
"He did everything for me," Nina said, "He tell the Reds, he helped with contract, my agent did nothing.",br>
Nina from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, played seven years in the Texas chain, the last three in the Flordia State League with Port Charlotte. In his best season, 1999 before injuries slowed him, he hit .365 with 15 doubles, 5 triples and a pair of homers while stealing 24 bases.
The FSL is a 'high' A League. The Midwest League, where the Dragons play is a 'low' A league. During the last week of spring training Nina was assigned to the Dragons.
"I don't care where I play," Nina said, "I like it here. When I am 14 years old I see my uncle (Rijo) play on television. I say, someday, I want to play on the same team, I dream I wear the same hat."
In his first game with the Dragons Thursday, Nina led off, collecting two hits, driving in a run and stealing a base. Some day, he may be on his uncles team.
Despite winning Game 1 Thursday. Dragons manager Donnie Scott moved three other players into the starting lineup, replacing shortstop Gary Patchett with Wandel Campana, rightfielder Chris Williamson with Omar Hurtado and designated hitter Justin Davis with Domonique Lewis.
"Right now, I'm so eager to get everybody in there," Scott said, "I want to do this before we go on the road trip (Monday), I want to get everybody in."
The only position player Scott didn't have in the starting lineup through two games was catcher J.C. Huguet, who will probably start Sunday.
There was more to Scott's smile than just Campana's bases loaded triple in the opener.
First, he was happy Campana hit a 0-2 pitch, something the organization is 'emphasizing' Scott said. He was also thrilled every baserunner watch him in the third base coaching box and knew exactly what to do.
"The guy on third (Williamson) was going to score, the guy on second (Edwin Encarnacion) picked me up right away and the guy on first (Bryan Prince) pitck me up right away too. Scott said, "And when Campana came around second, hit timing was perfect with his evye contact. It was just perfect."