Loons Power Past Dragons, 8-6

Bosnik, Dickson, Akins Homer; Loons Win Seventh in Last Eight Games

DAYTON, OH – Jesse Bosnik, O’Koyea Dickson and Nick Akins all homered and the Loons picked up an 8-6 win Thursday night over the Dayton Dragons. The Loons have now won seven of their last eight games played.

Bosnik’s homer in the third gave the Loons a 3-2 advantage. He just missed a second home run in this third at bat in the fifth inning, driving one deep to right but just foul.

In the sixth inning, Dickson clobbered a ball to left-center off the top of a picnic pavilion for his 17th homer of the year to give the Loons a 5-3 lead. But in the bottom of the sixth, Sammy Diaz tripled down the right field line to give the Dragons a 6-5 lead.

But in the top of the seventh inning, two strange and sloppy plays helped the Loons push across the tying and go-ahead runs. With James Baldwin on second after a double, Darnell Sweeney hit a soft chopper towards second. Second baseman Joe Terry kicked the ball towards third base and Baldwin raced around to score. Diaz’s throw from third to home was high allowing Sweeney to advance to second. Then after a bunt single by Jesus Arredondo placed runners at first and third, Sweeney scored on an errant pickoff throw by Jimmy Moran.

Akins’ long home run to left in the eighth tacked on the Loons’ eighth run.

Dayton got a couple runners on base in the ninth against reliever Daniel Carela, but Craig Stem entered in relief and struck out Sean Buckley on four pitches to record the save. Matt Shelton (3-5) notched the win in relief allowing a run and a hit over 1 2/3 innings in his first outing in one week. James Campbell started and worked four innings, allowing two runs.

Moran (2-3) took the loss.

Dickson finished with two hits to extend his hitting streak to nine games and his on-base streak to 14. Arredondo’s bunt single upped his hit streak to eight games. Sweeney went 2-for-5 and is now 6-for-9 in the series with two walks.

The Loons (31-35 second half, 65-71 overall) play the finale a three-game series against the Dragons (28-36, 58-76) Friday night at Fifth Third Field. Game time is 7pm ET. Right-hander Victor Araujo is scheduled to make his Midwest League debut for the Loons. Righty Radhames Quezada (5-8, 3.33 ERA) will be his mound opponent. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN 100.9-FM at ESPN1009.com.