A Night to Remember in Dayton
Dayton is an easy two-hour drive from Indy, but due to road construction, it took an extra half hour. I grew up near Dayton, and Dayton was never a nice city in my mind. Every big city has its bad areas, but Dayton seemed to have more than its share. I am happy to report that…
Dayton is an easy two-hour drive from Indy, but due to road construction, it took an extra half hour. I grew up near Dayton, and Dayton was never a nice city in my mind. Every big city has its bad areas, but Dayton seemed to have more than its share. I am happy to report that Dayton is making a comeback. Day Air Ballpark is in a section of Dayton off Webster Street that has not been desirable to go to after dark. That is changing! I am happy to see that. The Park allegedly has a capacity of 8,200 fans, but there weren’t anywhere near that number there on Thursday night.
Day Air Ballpark was officially named the Best Single-A Ballpark in America by Newsweek in the 2025 Fans’ Choice Awards! It was extremely nice, but I believe that Parkview Field in Ft. Wayne is at least it’s equal.
At any rate, it was a great experience except for the outcome: The Loons were beaten like a rented mule by the Dragons. This is what happens after the final out:
So, I got the most expensive tickets available: 2nd Row, behind the Loons’ dugout, a whopping $20 each! Three beers, three brats, and three peanuts were $72.00 (it would have been $160 in LA). In the second inning, it became apparent that the man sitting right behind us was a very knowledgeable Dodger fan. He was there with his wife. It turns out that he is, and has been, the Loons’ bus driver for 19 years. He goes to every road game, and they put him up in their hotel. His wife drives her car and goes as well. What a gig!
Between innings, another Dodger fan with an Ohtani jersey and a Dodger hat on came to my seat and said, “You are Mark Timmons, aren’t you? I read the blog every day.” I remembered him, but his moniker escapes me at this second. The bus driver and I had a running monologue through the entire game. He’s not a scout or a front office guy, but he is around these guys every day. He understands their character and drive. Here are a few takeaways:
- They love Alex Freeland. He is a legend in Great Lakes. “A manager on the field.” If the team is going poorly or players aren’t hustling or executing, Alex was in their grill. He is a ballplayer who makes everyone around him better. He could not stop raving about how Freeland was so well-liked and how he pushed everyone to do better. Of course, he can’t do it in MLB right about now, but his “intangibles” are off the chart. For a kids who was not expected to walk, he has exceeded all expectations. Don’t sleep on Alex Freeland.
- Josue DePaula is supremely talented, but his work ethic could be better. If he can improve that, the sky is the limit. Read into that exactly what you are thinking.
- Dalton Rushing has anger-control issues.
- Justin Wrobleski is laser-focused. He won’t be denied!
- “Diego Cartaya was a wonderful kid – he just wasn’t good.”
- Mike Sirota “has figured out hitting“.
- “In 19 years, not one Dodger player has ever disrespected me, and after a bad day, the bus driver might be an easy target. It never happened. The Dodgers have wonderful players.” Well, the guy had arms the size of tree trunks and was built like a lumberjack- I wouldn’t mess with him either!
- In Clayton Kershaw‘s first game, he forgot his glove, cleats, and some other stuff, and the bus driver had to run back to the hotel to get it. He said that from day one, you could see that he was special.
As I mentioned, the game was a debacle. Poor play, even poorer execution.
- The box score said there was just one error by the Loons, but I counted at least five!
- Davalan is talented and hits the ball with authority. He is a keeper. I see him as a 4th or 5th outfielder.
- Quintero has not yet displayed power (he’s just 19), but his bat is extremely quick… as in very extremely quick. He doesn’t run – he glides! He is a spooky-good talent. Wait until he gets his “man strength.”
- 1B Jose E. Hernandez is 23 and can’t catch a ball. He’s just a placeholder.
- Logan Wagner was injured and did not play, but the bus driver said that he is a stud and has thunder in his bat. Additionally, “he is a wonderful kid.”
- Yean can hit 105 MPH – we saw 103, but he can’t throw strikes. In one inning, we saw 31 pitches – 18 for strikes. And… he misses by “feet” not inches.
MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS
OKC Comets 6 – Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Houston) 1
This game started as a pitcher’s duel, but OKC put up 4 in the 8th to take control.
LHSP Logan Allen started for OKC. He allowed a single and 2 BB to the first three batters he faced. He struck out 2 of the next 3 batters, but one of the hitters hit a ground ball force out that plated Sugar Land’s first run.
In the 2nd, the Comets’ 3B Ryan Fitzgerald hit his 5th HR of the season to tie the score.
The game stayed tied until the 7th when Ryan Fitzgerald hit his 2nd HR (6) of the game taking a 2-1 lead.
OKC seemingly put it away in the 8th. C Chuckie Robinson tripled (2) and scored on a sac fly from 1B Seby Zavala. CF Zach Ehrhard drew a BB. James Tibbs III entered as a PH for DH Tommy Edman and hit a 2-run HR (15). Then the other Fitzgerald, LF Tyler Fitzgerald, hit a HR (6) for the final run of the game.
Allen was lifted after 5.0 innings in favor of RHRP Carlos Duran. Duran pitched a perfect 2.0 innings with 3 K.
RHRP Chayce McDermott was brought in for the 8th. The first batter he faced lined it up the middle and McDermott was injured. RHRP Wyatt Mills entered for the injured McDermott and retired the side with 1 K.
RHRP Keynan Middleton was brought in the 9th to close it out and he did with a perfect inning with 2 K.
- Ryan Fitzgerald – 2-3, 1 BB, 2 runs, 2 RBI, 2 HR (6)
- Tyler Fitzgerald – 1-4, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (6)
- James Tibbs III – 1-1, 1 run, 3 RBI, HR (15)
- Chuckie Robinson – 1-4, 1 run, triple (2)
Tommy Edman went 1-3 on the night, and is now 4-9 in his rehab games.
Tulsa Drillers 4 – NW Arkansas Naturals (KC) 3 – Game 1 – 7 Innings
RHSP Payton Martin allowed 2 singles to lead off the game. A force out put runners on 1st and 3rd, and a sac fly gave the Naturals the 1-0 lead.
Tulsa came back with solo runs in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th innings to take a 3-1 lead. In the 2nd, C Griffin Lockwood-Powell homered (5) to tie the score. In the 3rd, SS Elijah Hainline (7) hit a HR to give Tulsa the lead. In the 4th, GLP hit his 2nd HR (6) of the game.
With Payton Martin still pitching in the 5th, he surrendered a game tying 2-run HR.
LHRP Christian Suarez pitched a scoreless 6th and 7th inning, although with some stress.
With two outs in the 7th, RF Zyhir Hope and 3B Kyle Nevin both singled. GLP doubled (7) to score Hope with the walk-off win.
- Griffin Lockwood-Powell – 3-4, 3 runs, 3 RBI, double (7), 2 HR (6)
- Zyhir Hope – 2-4, 1 run
- Elijah Hainline – 1-4, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (7)
Tulsa Drillers 2 – NW Arkansas Naturals (KC) 0 – Game 2 – 7 Innings
This was an absolutely brilliantly pitched game for Tulsa. RHSP Peter Heubeck started and got up to 3.0 IP. He allowed a 2-out single in the 2nd, and that was it. He struck out 6 and did not walk a batter.
RHRP Carson Hobbs retired all 6 batters he faced. RHRP Kelvin Ramirez pitched the final 2.0 innings for his 3rd save. He hit a batter for just the 2nd runner to reach base against Tulsa pitchers in the 2nd game. One hit, 0 BB, and 1 HBP, 8 K.
In the Tulsa 3rd, DH Josue De Paula doubled (16), RF Mike Sirota singled him to 3rd, and LF Zyhir Hope hit a sac fly for a run.
In the 6th, SS Elijah Hainline singled, stole 2nd, went to 3rd on a ground out, and scored on 2B Jake Gelof’s sac fly.
- Mike Sirota – 2-3
- Elijah Hainline – 2-3, 1 run
Great Lakes Loons 7 – Dayton Dragons (Reds) 3
In the 2nd inning for Great Lakes, with one out, LF Kole Myers drew a BB. 2B Nico Perez singled, and after the 2nd out, 3B Jose Izarra was HBP to load the bases. 1B Jose D. Hernandez and CF Eduardo Quintero walked to give the Loons a 2-0 lead. SS Emil Morales then hit a bases clearing double (2) for a 5-run 2nd inning.
RHSP Christian Zazueta ran into trouble in the 3rd. He allowed a 2-run HR, a triple and groundout for 3 Dragon runs. That was all Dayton was to get.
Zazueta would only complete 4.1 innings. His strikeout pitch was not working, but his excellent control was working for him in this one. He struck out just 2, but did not walk anyone.
RHRP Alex Makarewich followed Zazueta and he faced 5 batters, retiring each of them, 4 with a strikeout. After a very rough start, Makarewich is rounding into a quality reliever. On May 12, Makarewich’s ERA was 5.40. In his next 5 games, 8.0 IP, Makarewich has not allowed a run, given up 3 hits, 3 BB, and struck out 14.
RHRP Nicolas Cruz and LHRP Matt Lanzendorfer completed the final 3.0 scoreless innings. Combined they allowed 1 hit, 0 BB, and 4 K. As a team, the Loons DID NOT ALLOW A BB.
RF Jose Meza homered (7) in the 6th. In the 9th, GL scored a 7th run. Izarra singled and stole 2nd, and Hernandez walked. A WP put runners on 2nd and 3rd. When Quintero walked, Ball 4 was another WP scoring Izarra for the 7th run.
- Eduardo Quintero – 2-3, 2 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Nico Perez – 2-4, 1 run
- Jose Meza – 1-4, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (7)
- Emil Morales – 1-5. 3 RBI, double (2)
After a very slow start to 2026, Quintero has been very hot for the month of May. For May, in 81 PA, Quintero is slashing .358/.469/.448/.917. He also stole 15 bases with just 1 caught stealing.
Visalia Rawhide (Dbacks) 14 – Ontario Tower Buzzers 11
This was not pitcher’s duel. It started out well for Ontario. RHSP Mason Estrada retired the side in order in the 1st. In the bottom of the 1st, 2B Kellen Lindsey walked, stole 2nd, and went to 3rd on F7. RF Jaron Elkins was HBP and stole 2nd. Lindsey scored and Elkins to 3rd on a ground out. Elkins scored on CF Landyn Vidourek’s double (5).
Visalia started a run of scoring in 5 straight innings off Estrada and RHRP Jose Cabrera. Visalia scored 4 in the 5th and took a commanding 8-2 lead. In 4.1 IP, Estrada allowed 5 runs on 6 hits and 2 BB. In 1.1 IP, Cabrera allowed 4 runs (2 earned) on 3 hits and 2 BB.
In the bottom of the 5th, Ontario scored 4. LF Ching-Hsien Ko walked and 1B Easton Shelton followed with a single. A balk moved the runners to 2nd and 3rd, and Vidourek walked to load the bases. With one out, C Francisco Espinoza walked to bring home Ko. Shelton scored on a balk, and Vidourek and Espinoza to 3rd and 2nd. Both runners scored on a catcher’s throwing error on a pickoff attempt.
Visalia got the 9th run in the 6th on Cabrera’s throwing error. RHRP Jhonny Jimenez relieved Cabrera to finish the inning.
Ontario scored a pair in the 6th. Elkins drew a BB and Ko singled, sending Elkins to 3rd. Ko stole 2nd followed by a BB to Shelton to load the bases. Elkins scored on a force out with Ko taking 3rd. Ko scored on a bal.
In the 7th, 2B Joendry Vargas singled and scored ahead of Elkins 2-run HR (7), giving Ontario a 10-9 lead.
RHRP Jecsua Liborius gave up the tying run in the 9th on a 2-out WP. In the 10th, the placed runner scored on a WP and balk. Then the inning got away from Ontario. The Rawhide scored 4 runs in the 10th.
In the bottom of the 10th, DH Brendan Tunink the placed runner scored on a pair of ground balls.
Joendry Vargas was the only Ontario batter with 2 hits.
ACL White Sox 6 – ACL Dodgers 3
DH Aidan West slugged a 3-run HR for the Dodgers 3 runs.
The White Sox hit 3 HR accounting for 5 of the 6 runs.
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Discussion (63)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Wow what fantastic numbers for Sirota during the last 100 games.
Yup
Can you explain that desire? Feels a little like: https://youtu.be/GKZJdaiJF84?si=4J14XBkOW_-T4QCf
Even with Miggy as the 10 run closer! You’re up Roki. Match Wrobo!
I can’t speak for Bums, but I like to root for the underdog. You see, I was once an underdog! I love a good comeback story. Alex Freeland was born with a club foot, and doctors weren’t sure he’d walk normally. Now he’s walking into major league ballparks. That’s a pretty good comeback story. Twenty-nine major league teams are now worried about what happens when he reaches base. That’s why I like him.
Jared Kelenic opted for free agency after his release by the Braves.
Just sad. Kelenic was a stud 5 tool OF prosepct when the Mets drafted him 1st round (#6 overall) in 2018. Traded to Seattle with end of career Jay Bruce, with Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz going to NYM. Fast track with Seattle, but never stuck with any MLB team. Although losing to a water cooler and breaking his foot in Seattle did not help. He is still playing as a 26 year old (turns 27 in July). So I guess there is still hope. Then again it is the White Sox who waived him. Very similar story to the “Can’t Miss” Nick Senzel.
Hard to believe Kelenic is still only 26. I hear OKC is getting Senzel’s old uniform ready for him.
He and Julio Rodriguez were co-prospects for Seattle. Who wants to bet on De Paula vs. Hope in five years?
I only remembered him with the Braves, my bad.
He’s worth a shot
This Passan article is awesome. It’s on the labor negotiations. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/48901348/2026-mlb-labor-cba-mlbpa-first-proposals-lockout-salary-cap-floor Multiple owners and high-ranking team officials have told ESPN that stagnating franchise values are every bit as much the motivation for a number of owners as whatever competitive balance a salary cap would ostensibly bring. Perhaps the tepid growth of MLB valuations compared with the other three major men’s professional sports is changing — the San Diego Padres recently fetched $3.9 billion, a record sale for a baseball team — but owners’ calculations are simple: Fixed costs make a business more attractive for prospective buyers. And for organizations that claim to be cash poor, the sale price is paramount to their investment. This thinking is “chef’s kiss” for it’s self-centered nature. Let’s cap the market for player salaries, so we can re-ignite the untapped market for selling MLB teams. This is where details matter — and numbers can be interpreted in different ways. Did the Dodgers spend $446 million more on players than the Miami Marlins last year? Yes. Did Dodgers players receive $446 million more in salaries than Marlins players? No. MLB calculated the figures using a combination of what the Dodgers paid their players ($346 million) plus their penalties for exceeding the luxury tax threshold ($169 million). The Dodgers’ tax bill alone was $100 million more than the Marlins’ entire payroll ($69 million).
Sorry, I missed that, thanks for the heads up. Prob not a subscriber…..
That’s almost as much as Mark’s tax bill last year!
PitBull it is! The ayes have it, 2 to 0. Bear & me voted it in!
I wish!
Firing squad?
Thanks, Bear, I will indeed check out the new ballpark in Ontario.
10:10 PM ET Phillies (29-28) Dodgers (37-20) SP Jesus Luzardo L 4-4 4.38 ERA SP Roki Sasaki R 3-3 4.93 ERA Confirmed Lineup DH S. Ohtani L CF Andy Pages R 1B F. Freeman L SS Mookie Betts R RF Kyle Tucker L C Will Smith R 2B Miguel Rojas R LF Alex Call R 3B S. Espinal R 72° Wind 9 mph Out
The Padre Punks just lost to the Nats 9-4 with ex Dodger Clayton Beeter picking up the save moving them 5 games behind.and fading as predicted.
It would mean those pitchers would be very good most of all and a byproduct would be payroll reduction and young players coming from those trades. What were you thinking?
So following the owners logic; baseball teams are too expensive to make any money. So I want to sell the team for a profit But who’s going to purchase a team when they’re being told it’s a losing proposition? The owners claim they can’t make a profit with a payroll under $100 million. And yet they offer the players a floor of $170 million. Maybe I’m missing some, but as far as I can know if your losing money at $100 million, your losing more money with a $170 million dollar payroll. The owners are talking out of both sides of their mouths.
Depreciation plays a role for wealthy owners. As does their egos!
I really wasn’t sure, because you’d be getting rid of sure things for potentially sure things. and I hope, really hope, that when those pictures or others become sure things, then the other pictures will be at the end of their contract.
are any owners claiming they can’t make a profit? I haven’t seen that!