June 30, 2008 | LISLE, IL Monday night saw the DuPage Dragons get their first streak in their last eleven games. Unfortunately it was not the good kind, as they dropped their second straight contest by a final score of 6-0 to the DuBois Bombers. The loss dropped the Dragons to 9-9 on the season, the first time they haven’t been above .500 in three weeks. The Bombers improved to 7-14.
Fans at the Lisle Sports Complex at Benedictine University were treated to a great pitcher’s duel through the first five innings of the contest. DuPage starter Brad Riegler (Illinois-Chicago) escaped the only jam he faced in the first inning. The Bombers had a runner on third with one out, but Riegler struck out the next two hitters to get out of the inning. DuBois starter Chad Edwards was equally impressive, as he cruised through the first five innings as well. After five, each pitcher had only given up two hits, with Riegler striking out four and Edwards retiring three on strikes.
With the score locked at zero, Riegler was the first pitcher to flinch as he couldn’t escape the sixth. He walked the Bombers pitcher Edwards, the first batter he faced, and that began a string of six consecutive hitters reaching base. Eric Hanlon dropped a sacrifice bunt to move Edwards over, but reached on a throwing error. A single by Rich Gorman loaded the bases, and another single, this time by Wes Fink, scored Edwards for the first run of the game. TJ Dailey single to right field to score Hanlon, but Gorman was thrown out at the plate on a great throw from rightfielder Dave Reynolds (Northern Illinois). Riegler’s night would end when he gave up another RBI single to Garret Segraves that gave the Bombers a 3-0 lead. Tom Zelasko (Northern Illinois) came on in relief to get the Dragons out of the inning.
The Bombers would add a run in the seventh when Edwards would again lead off the inning with a walk. A one-out walk to Gorman and a single by Fink would load the bases once more for the Bombers. Edwards scored on a fielder’s choice by Dailey and the Bombers had a commanding 4-0 lead. But the Bombers weren’t done, as they were able to push across two more in the ninth. The first two hitters in the inning would reach on an error and a walk respectively. After Dragons reliever Tom Filip (Baylor) retired the next two hitters, it looked like the Dragons would escape the inning unscathed. But Garret Seagraves smacked his third hit of the night, a single to left that scored both runners to extend the Bombers’ advantage.
The Dragons have been known for their late inning heroics at home, but couldn’t muster up much offense tonight. They got a one out single from third baseman Phil Wunderlich (Louisville) in the ninth, his second hit of the night, but that’s all they could do in the inning as they were blanked by the Bombers by a final score of 6-0. The Dragons only had one inning in which they had two baserunners, and finished the night with only five hits. It’s the second time this year they’ve been shutout, both times coming at the hands of the Bombers.
The DuPage Dragons wrap up their nine-game homestand tomorrow night, July 1st, when they take on these same DuBois Bombers at 7:05 pm at the Lisle Sports Complex at Benedictine University. 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. |
