Kernels 4, Dragons 1
HIGHLIGHTS: Outscored 20-4 in a three-game sweep, these were once again few and far between for the home team. Second baseman Henry Rodriguez did bring the crowd to its feet in the third inning, ranging behind the bag to throw out Justin Bass. The Dragons hit .196 (19-for-97) in the series.
TURNING POINT: Down 4-0 in the seventh inning, the Dragons loaded the bases with nobody out and came away with one run as two of their better hitters, Didi Gregorius (pop to short) and Rodriguez (double-play grounder) could not deliver.
PITCHING STORY: Cedar Rapids lefty Tyler Skaggs, the 40th overall pick in the 2009 draft by the Angels, struck out eight and allowed four hits over five shutout innings. Dragons starter Tim Crabbe was his own worst enemy with a throwing error and a run-scoring wild pitch in a three-run third.
ON DECK: Blair Carson, who has pitched well in relief, makes his second start as the Dragons open a series with Quad Cities (43-25 overall, 16-8 second half) in search of their first home win since June 28.
— Sean McClelland, staff writer
DAYTON — The news that catcher Mark Fleury ranked fifth in the Midwest League in second-half slugging percentage (.651) seemed to surprise Dayton Dragons manager Todd Benzinger.
“He DH’ed (Thursday),” Benzinger said, smiling. “Subconsciously, I must have known that.”
After a slow start to his first Class A season, Fleury indeed has gotten it together at the plate, batting .352 over his last 16 games and .348 in July.
He went 3-for-4 on Friday, July 23, but the Dragons dropped their 11th consecutive home game, 4-1 to the Cedar Rapids Kernels, who completed a three-game sweep at Fifth Third Field.
A .206 hitter in the first half, Fleury is batting .237 overall with eight home runs and 29 RBIs — not overwhelming, but encouraging, especially since the Reds invested a 2009 fourth-round draft choice in him mainly for his bat.
“Like I said earlier in the season when I wasn’t going well, it’s baseball,” Fleury said. “You play 140 games. There’s no reason to get too down or too high on yourself about 20 games. It’s something I’ve had to learn.”
Fleury was drafted out of North Carolina with the hope that he might become a serviceable receiver. Benzinger, for one, sees progress there, too.
“I’m not a catching instructor, but I see improvement in Mark,” Benzinger said. “His hands are getting softer, and he’s throwing people out. He threw out three (would-be base thieves) the last time he played, and they weren’t very close.”
SPLITTING TIME: Benzinger does not plan to name a starting first baseman in the wake of Chris Richburg’s recent promotion to Lynchburg. Miami University product Tommy Nurre and newly added Jonathan Kaskow are sharing the position.
“Both can hit. Both can field. I’m not going to treat one like a backup,” Benzinger said. “Unless somebody really makes a statement, they’ll both get an opportunity.”
HOME SWEET HOME: Since May 12, the Dragons are 6-23 at Fifth Third Field. They are 1-11 in the second half before the home fans.
PROSPECT WATCH: It’s not hard to figure out why Cedar Rapids won the first-half MWL Western Division championship. Of the Los Angeles Angels’ top 30 prospects as ranked by Baseball America before the season, 21 have been on the roster. The Dragons have two of the Reds’ top 30.
BAILEY ARRIVES: Reds pitcher Homer Bailey has joined the Dragons and will work out with the team leading up to his Monday rehab start here.
About the Author