July 11, 2008 | LISLE, IL Friday night in Lisle saw the DuPage Dragons host the Dubois Bombers in the first game of a two-game set. The pitching was lights out for the Dragons as they turned away the Bombers by a score of 2-0. The win was their second in a row and put them at 15-12 for the season. The Bombers fell to a league-worst 7-18.
Dave Reynolds (Northern Illinois) was making his first start on the mound for DuPage and looked magnificent from the beginning. He retired the side in order in the first inning, including striking out the first two hitters he faced. In the bottom half, the Dragons started quickly as leftfielder Mark Noth (Belmont) earned a leadoff walk. Kevin Tokarski (Illinois State) followed with a single and the Dragons had runners on first and second without an out in the inning. After a fly out, third baseman Phil Wunderlich (Louisville) smacked a two-run double to left to give the Dragons the early lead.
It turned out that was all the scoring the Dragons would do in the contest. Fortunately, Reynolds had everything under control as he was solid the entire night. He only faced two jams during his outing, the first coming in the third inning. After a fielder’s choice, Zach Rolls became the third consecutive Bombers hitter to reach base when he singled to put runners on first and second. Reynolds was able to get the next batter to fly out to right to get out of the inning unharmed.
Reynolds didn’t face trouble again until the sixth. Rolls reached base with his second single of the night. After the next hitter popped out, Rolls stole second, and then Reynolds would retire the next hitter on strikes before Garrett Segraves would earn a two-out walk, putting runners on first and second. Rolls would steal third, and on the throw, Segraves took second, putting two runners in scoring position. But again Reynolds would rise to the occasion, striking out Daniel Nichols on a 3-2 breaking ball over the outside corner.
Reynolds would hand the game over to the bullpen after completing a flawless seventh inning. Tom Zelasko (Northern Illinois) didn’t allow a hit in the eighth, as he too pitched a perfect inning, striking out one. Brian Stroud (Western Michigan) came in to record the save in the ninth. He would give up a leadoff walk, but the next hitter would fly out before catcher Matt Behren (Northern Illinois) would catch the baserunner on a pickoff play for the second out of the inning. Stroud struck out the next hitter to end the game and give the Dragons the victory. It was Reynolds’ second win of the season as he allowed just four hits on the night, walking three hitters while striking out six over his seven innings of work.
The DuPage Dragons will take on the Dubois Bombers for the last time at home tomorrow night, July 12th, at 7:05 pm at the Lisle Sports Complex at Benedictine University. Tickets start at $6 with children five and under admitted free. Group rate are available by calling the Dragons’ ticket office at 630-241-2255. |
