Dragons top Bees; Siri extends hitting streak to 30 games

A good pitching performance on Monday was a key for a Dragons victory for the second straight day. Starter Andrew Jordan went six innings and allowed four hits, while three relivers allowed one total hit over the last three innings to help Dayton beat the Burlington Bees 3-1.

Burlington won the first game of the series on Saturday, but the Dragons won the last two to claim their second consecutive series. Dayton had lost its previous four series before the current streak.

Another streak is still going. Jose Siri extended his hitting streak to 30 games in the third inning with a single on a hard ground ball that rolled into left field.

It’s the longest current hitting streak in the minor leagues and the longest in Dragons history. Siri’s streak is also the third-longest in Midwest League history. The league’s record is 35, which was set in 1977.

Game changer: The Dragons took advantage of a rocky start on the mound by Burlington relief pitcher Ty Barkell in the fifth inning.

With a 1-1 tie, Barkell entered the game in relief of starter Joe Gatto. He walked Malik Collymore and Taylor Trammell on nine pitches, but then struck out Bruce Yari and Michael Beltre on seven pitches.

Hector Vargas hit the first pitch he saw from Barkell to center field for a single, which scored Collymore from second base.

Beltre put the Dragons up 3-1 in the eighth with a solo home run that flew over the lawn section in right field and landed on E. First St. The homer was measured by the team’s doppler radar system at 453 feet.

“I hadn’t seen one go that far in a long time,” Dragons manager Luis Bolivar said. “He put a load there.”

Dragons tales: As good as Siri has been at the plate, his ability to make tough catches has excited scouts as well. His defensive skills were on display in the first inning when he made a quick throw to potentially save a run.

The Bees quickly got two runners on after a fielding error and a single. Richie Fecteau then flied out to Siri in center field, and Burlington’s Jonah Todd tagged up at second base and took off for third. Siri threw the ball almost immediately after the flyout, though, and Hector Vargas caught the ball at third just before Todd slid into the base to record the inning’s second out.

“He’s been great in all aspects of the game,” Bolivar said of Siri. “Running, hitting, defensively in the outfield running down balls. He’s a guy that basically has all the tools. It shows his ability, and it’s nice to see that he can show everybody what he’s got. He’s getting better and better every day.”

On deck: The Dragons are off on Tuesday and hit the road on Wednesday for the first of a three-game series at Lansing. Matt Blandino (1-2, 4.74 ERA) is slated to start on Wednesday against Lansing's Yennsy Diaz (2-2, 3.96).

Off disabled list: Tuesday is the last day on the disabled list for Scott Moss, and he's expected to start his first game in nearly two weeks on Friday in Lansing. Moss (10-5, 3.58) was placed on the DL to rest up for the remainder of the season, according to Bolivar.

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