June 7, 2008 | QUINCY, IL After torching the Quincy Gems for 13 runs the night before, the DuPage Dragons’ bats were silenced Saturday night as they fell by a score of 4-2.
Unlike Friday night, the Dragons could not get off to a hot start early. Gems starter Brian Morrell baffled the Dragons, retiring the first 11 batters he faced. It didn’t get much better, as he continued to mystify the Dragons hitters throughout the evening.
DuPage did score first however, plating a run in the top of the fifth inning. After the first two Dragons went down on strikes, catcher Matt Behren (Northern Illinois) got the two out rally started with a single. He advanced to second after second basemen Pete Capetta (Illinois) walked, which set the stage for left fielder Nick Popescu (Bradley). Popescu hit a hot shot to the shortstop that bounced off the fielder’s left shoulder into short centerfield. Behren, running on contact, was able to come around and score on the error to give the Dragons a 1-0 lead.
But that was the last time the Dragons would lead in the contest. In the bottom half of the inning, the Gems were able to chase Dragons starter Anthony Manville (Iowa) with a three run inning. Quincy hitter Alex Acheson started the rally by getting hit by a pitch. He ended up on third after a pair of fielders’ choice plays, including one where the hitter reached base. Acheson came around to score on an Oliver Palmer double. A sacrifice fly plated the second run and gave Quincy the lead at 2-1. That was it for Manville, but not for the Gems. They put across one more run as the next hitter, Dragon slayer Jon Myers, singled in Palmer.
The Dragons tried to mount a comeback in the 7th inning, but couldn’t plate more than one run. Matt Behren hit his second single of the game with one out in the inning, and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch.
That would be all the Dragons could score the rest of the night. Quincy got the run back in the bottom half of the inning when Kurtis Muller, on via a hit by pitch, scored on a sacrifice fly. That would end the scoring for the night, and gave the Gems their first victory of the year, 4-2.
The Dragons never felt comfortable at the plate, and it showed as they struck out 13 times. Manville was the hard luck loser, going 4 2/3 innings, but only giving up three earned runs. Brian Morrell picked up the win for the Gems, with Estes getting the save.
The Dragons will try to get back to their winning ways tomorrow afternoon, as they end their road trip with a game against the Springfield Sliders. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 pm. The Dragons then return home for their first home game Monday, June 9th, against the Danville Dans. 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.
