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Ibarra Blasts Grand Slam in Big Dragons Win

Huge Game for Sal Stewart as Dragons Cut Deficit to Two Games in Playoff Chase
By Tom Nichols
September 5, 2023

Dragons 10, Fort Wayne 4 Click here for the box score Dayton (R-H-E): 10-12-0; Fort Wayne (R-H-E): 4-4-0 Win: Chris McElvain (2-2); Loss: Edwuin Bencomo (2-4); Save: None HR: Dayton: Sal Stewart (1st, 1 on base in fifth inning); Ruben Ibarra (16th, 3 on base in seventh inning); Hayden Jones

Dragons 10, Fort Wayne 4

Click here for the box score

Dayton (R-H-E): 10-12-0; Fort Wayne (R-H-E): 4-4-0

Win: Chris McElvain (2-2); Loss: Edwuin Bencomo (2-4); Save: None

HR: Dayton: Sal Stewart (1st, 1 on base in fifth inning); Ruben Ibarra (16th, 3 on base in seventh inning); Hayden Jones (3rd, 0 on base in eighth inning). HR: Fort Wayne: Tyler Robertson (2nd, 0 on base in fourth inning); Newilian Cedeno (6th, 0 on base in ninth inning)

Dayton, Ohio—Ruben Ibarra hit a grand slam home run and Chris McElvain fired six strong innings to lead the Dayton Dragons to a 10-4 victory over the Fort Wayne TinCaps on Tuesday night. The game was the opener to a regular season-ending six-game series.

The Dragons win coupled with a loss by West Michigan left Dayton two games out of first place in the Midwest League East Division standings. There are five games to play in the second half season.

East Division Top Three with Five Games to Play:

Fort Wayne: 34-27 ---

West Michigan: 33-27 -0.5

Dayton: 32-29 -2.0

The win was big for the Dragons, but Ibarra shared the team’s attitude.

"Our mentality isn't to look at the long stretch, but to look at one game at a time,” said Ibarra. “We can't get the whole thing if we can't get to the little things first. Tonight was a good win. We'll celebrate it, but one game at a time."

The Dragons slugged three home runs and collected 12 hits. Sal Stewart enjoyed a huge game with a two-run home run, run-scoring double, and a single.

The Dragons jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Hector Rodriguez walked and scored from first base on a double by Stewart. Fort Wayne tied the game in the top of the fourth on a solo home run by Tyler Robertson.

The Dragons regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Ruben Ibarra started the rally with a single to left field and went to third on Austin Hendrick’s double to right. Justice Thompson’s infield ground out drove in Ibarra to make it 2-1, and Hendrick scored on an infield single by Carlos Jorge to give the Dragons a 3-1 lead.

In the fifth, the Dragons added to their lead. Edwin Arroyo tripled to the fence in right-center with one out, and Stewart followed with a home run to right-center estimated at 407’ to make it 5-1.

Still leading 5-1 in the seventh, the Dragons loaded the bases on singles by Arroyo and Stewart and a walk by Allan Cerda. Ibarra followed with a grand slam home run to left field, his 16th homer of the year, to make it 9-1.

After Fort Wayne scored two runs in the top of the eighth, Dayton’s Hayden Jones hit a solo home run to center field in the bottom of the inning to make it 10-3. Fort Wayne added on run in the ninth to close out the scoring.

Dragons starting pitcher Chris McElvain (2-2) was brilliant and earned the victory. He tossed six innings, allowing one run on just two hits with one walk and six strikeouts. The two hits against McElvain were a solo homer and a bunt single.

Ibarra spoke after the game about his ability to handle the pressure of the division race.

"Just relaxing and realizing everyone on my team is a bunch of professionals,” said Ibarra. “Putting less pressure on myself to not have to carry the team. Even regardless, I have that ambition to strive. Today I kind of let it go. It goes to show I was playing looser today."

Notes: The Dragons have hit 14 home runs in their last seven games and now have 125 on the year in 128 games.

Up Next: The Dragons (32-29, 65-62) host Fort Wayne (34-27, 66-61) again on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District. Jose Acuña (7-3, 3.50) is scheduled to start for Dayton. For ticket information, go to daytondragons.com/tickets or call (937) 228-2287.

On the Air: All Dragons home and road games are broadcast on radio on FOX Sports 980 AM WONE. Games can be heard on smart phones, iPads, and other mobile devices via the free Dragons Mobile App, or on a computer at wone.com. Games are also available on HD Radio on 104.7 WTUI HD 2.