Dragons Soar to Victory with Big Contributions from Duno and Stovall

On June 10, the Dayton Dragons faced off against Maikel Miralles for the second time this season, after a previous encounter that resulted in a lopsided 22-8 win back on May 20. Initially, it looked like Miralles had improved, as he held the Dragons scoreless for four innings during their latest matchup. However, everything changed in the fifth inning thanks to Alfredo Duno, whose powerful swing ignited an explosive offensive performance that led to a 14-2 victory for Dayton, bringing them within one game of the Great Lakes Loons for first place.

With two runners on base, Duno connected with an 0-1 breaking pitch, launching it deep into left field, where it struck the scoreboard before bouncing back onto the field. "Started to make them throw pitches and make them stay over the plate," commented Dragons manager Julio Morillo. "Then, you know, Duno hits one off the scoreboard. So that was good." This moment marked a significant turnaround for Duno, who had struggled during a recent trip to Grand Rapids, managing only three hits in 26 at-bats.

After hitting the home run, Duno continued to shine, contributing a first-pitch double down the third base line in his next at-bat. He showcased his agility by leaping over relief pitcher Isaiah Lowe to score after a wild pitch, later completing his night with a check-swing single. Overall, Duno finished an impressive 4-for-6 at the plate, crossing home three times.

Peyton Stovall also delivered an outstanding performance, going 4-for-4 with three RBIs, including three doubles and a triple in the eighth inning. His strong showing followed a solid outing the previous night, where he recorded two hits and a home run. "He's been working really hard on, like, his stance and making sure he swings at the pitches he can do damage with," Morillo said, praising Stovall’s commitment to improvement.

On the mound, Kyle McCoy continued his strong form, pitching five innings and allowing just one run. Despite some early challenges, including a close call with a pickoff attempt, McCoy effectively managed to keep the TinCaps at bay. The Dragons took control in the fifth inning, scoring seven runs, highlighted by Duno's home run and contributions from Stovall and others. Kien Vu capped off the night with a two-run homer, bringing Dayton's total runs to 12 for the second consecutive game. The bullpen trio of Jimmy Romano, Victory Diaz, and Trent Hodgdon closed out the game, allowing only three hits and one run over the final four innings.