Dayton Dragons return home for first-place battle against Great Lakes

May 26—The Dayton Dragons return to Day Air Ballpark this week for a key series against the Midwest League East Division's first-place team.

Dayton (25-20), which currently sits in second place in the Midwest League East Division's first half standings, hosts a six-games series against first-place Great Lakes Loons (27-16), a Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate, beginning at 7:05 p.m. today, May 26, at Day Air Ballpark.

Here's everything you need to know heading into this week's series with the Loons:

Last weekThe Dragons saw an offensive explosion in the first two games of the series, beating the TinCaps by a combined score of 33-10. On Wednesday, May 20, the Dragons had 18 hits in a 22-8 victory which set the club's all-time record for runs scored in a game. Alfredo Duno and Carlos Sanchez combined to hit four of the Dragons six home runs.

They followed with back-to-back one-run losses on Thursday, May 21 and Friday, May 22 before taking Saturday's game 5-0.

What went rightThe Dragons led the Midwest League with 59 hits last week and ranked in the top-3 in doubles, triples, home runs, RBIs and team batting average (.280).

The pitching staff also ranked in the top-3 in strikeouts and batting average against (.209).

Dayton Dragons: Meet the hit doctor behind the Reds' next generation

Player to watchDragons left-handed pitcher Kyle McCoy, called up last week from low-A Daytona, tossed five shutout innings and earned the win in his debut on Saturday, May 23, as Dayton beat Fort Wayne 5-0.

The eighth round pick from the University of Maryland allowed two hits with one walk and four strikeouts.

What's aheadThe Dragons and the Loons will battle for first-place this week as Dayton returns home for a six-game series. There are 21 games remaining in the Midwest League first half. The first half winner earns an automatic bid into the four-team Midwest League playoffs.

Dayton split a series with Great Lakes in their first meeting of the season in mid-April. The Loons took the first two games of the series on April 14 and 15, but the Dragons took three of the last four games. Dayton capped the series with a 6-5 win that saw Duno and Yerlin Confidan each hit RBI singles in the top of the ninth inning to earn the victory.