June 29, 2008 | LISLE, IL The Dupage Dragons did themselves no favors in their pursuit of the league-leading Springfield Sliders Sunday night, splitting a doubleheader against the Danville Dans despite getting strong pitching throughout.
In game one, it appeared Dragons lefty Ryan Copeland would fall victim to a lack of run support after allowing an early unearned run. After walking the leadoff man in the top of the second, Copeland was faced with runners on first and second with nobody out following a throwing error by shortstop Jordan Tokarz. After fanning the next two hitters, Zach Walters dumped a single into left-center field to plate the game’s first run.
That lone tally was all that Copeland allowed en route to his third consecutive exceptional outing, as he struck out seven and walked one while scattering seven hits over the course of a seven-inning complete game.
The Dragons tied the game with a two-out sixth inning rally that began when Dans center fielder Drew Haynes misplayed a line drive off the bat of Pete Capetta, resulting in a triple. Nick Popescu followed with a booming double to the right-center field gap to even the score at one.
Kevin Tokarski, who had entered the game an inning before in place of the ejected Justin Wilson, walked with one out in the seventh and stole second shortly thereafter. Danville reliever Worth Tate’s control became an issue as a light rain began to fall, issuing walks to Ryan Duffy and Justin Behm before bouncing a wild one to allow Tokarski to score the winning run for a 2-1 victory.
Copeland picked up the win to move to 2-0, while Tate’s record dropped to 1-2 following the loss.
The nightcap saw the Dragons on the receiving end of a solid pitching but this time unable to capitalize as the Dans took the contest by a 4-2 margin.
The Dragons struck for the first and only time in the bottom of the first following a Mark Noth leadoff double and a walk of Matt Behren. Phil Wunderlich laced a two-run double just inside the chalk down the third base line to push across both baserunners.
The Dans responded immediately in the top of the second. Beatty’s control initially evaded him, walking and hitting the first two hitters to give Danville two baserunners without an out. Following a Zach Walters flyout, Chris Lewellyn reached base on a Scott Sexton error to load the bases. Drew Haynes then singled and another run came across on a Jon Lilly groundout to knot the game at two.
The staffs exchanged goose eggs until the Danville half of the sixth inning. David Worthington led off the inning with a triple over the head of center fielder Pete Capetta and scored when Lewellyn singled with one out. Beatty then yielded a double to Lilly which signaled the end of his evening, but the damage was done and the Dans would hang on to claim a 4-2 victory.
Lee Swindle (2-0) worked a pair of scoreless innings in relief of Danville starter John Foley to pick up the victory. Tyler Hess pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save. Andrew Beatty (0-2) went five and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits while fanning six and walking three.
The Dans move their record to 8-10, while the Dragons now sit at 9-8, five and a half games back of Springfield.
The Dragons will welcome the Dubois County Bombers in for a two-game set starting Monday night at the Lisle Sports Complex at Benedictine University. Both games start at 7:05 as the Dragons wrap up their current nine-game homestand. Tickets start at $6 with kids five and under admitted free. Group rates are available by calling the Dragons' ticket office at 630-241-2255. |
