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Dayton Dragons: Lodolo, Lorant pitch Dragons past Cubs for series split
TL;DR
The Dayton Dragons secured a 3-0 victory over the South Bend Cubs, splitting their six-game series. Nick Lodolo and Nestor Lorant combined for a four-hit shutout, striking out 15 batters.
Key points
- Dayton Dragons won 3-0 against South Bend Cubs
- Nick Lodolo pitched a strong rehab game
- Nestor Lorant had a dominant performance
- Dragons achieved a split in the six-game series
- Combined for a four-hit shutout with 15 strikeouts
Mentioned in this story
Nick LodoloNestor Lorant
Dayton DragonsSouth Bend Cubs
Apr. 26—From 1:06 to 3:06 p.m. on Sunday, April 26, the weather turned nicer and nicer with each passing inning at Day Air Ballpark. But from pitch No. 1 to pitch No. 108, no improvement was required.
The Dayton Dragons enjoyed the luxury of Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo's rehab assignment preceding Nestor Lorant's most dominant performance since joining the Dragons at the start of the 2025 season.
They combined for a four-hit shutout, no walks and 15 strikeouts to lead the Dragons to a 3-0 victory over South Bend to gain a split in the six-game series.
"It's really fun to play defense behind guys like that, who just fill up the strike zone and they get the job done," Dragons left fielder Kien Vu said. "Lodolo is fun to watch. And Nestor's an outstanding pitcher, too. He makes his stuff play up, and it's a lot of fun to play defense."
Lodolo made his first rehab appearance since opening the season on the injured list with another blister on his left index finger. He allowed two hits and struck out seven. He couldn't have pitched much better.
The Reds planned for Lodolo to pitch four innings. But he was so efficient that 42 pitches wasn't enough. So he pitched the fifth inning, struck out two, and finished with 51 pitches, including 39 for strikes.
Lorant is Dayton's regular Sunday starter. He pitched the final four innings, allowing two hits and striking out eight on 57 pitches. From the last out of the sixth to the first out of the eighth, he struck out five straight Cubs. He allowed a single in the eighth but struck out the side.
"It's kind of weird because I'm not used to pitching from the bullpen, but I still got to do my job," Lorant said. "I thought it was going to be a little bit ha
rder, but my pitches, my strike zone was really good, so I just take advantage."
Lorant entered with a 4.50 ERA and lowered it to 3.50. His best start in 2025 came on August 9 against Lake County in a no-decision. He pitched five scoreless innings, allowed one hit, walked three and struck out six. Otherwise, Lorant was 2-10 in 24 starts with a 5.79 ERA.
Sunday was a great sign for Lorant who came to Dayton with high hopes of quickly taking the next step. He was the Reds minor league pitcher of the year and the Florida State League pitcher of the year in 2024 with an 8-3 record in 22 starts and a 1.44 ERA before a late-season promotion to Dayton.
"His changeup was working really good today, and his fastball has a late life as well," manager Julio Morillo said. "It's a good combination when your fastball can get there quick, and then you have that changeup that looks like it stops in the air. Hitters have a tough time picking that up."
Q&A
Who were the standout pitchers in the Dayton Dragons' victory over the Cubs?
Nick Lodolo and Nestor Lorant were the standout pitchers, combining for a four-hit shutout and 15 strikeouts.
What was the outcome of the Dayton Dragons' series against the South Bend Cubs?
The Dayton Dragons split the six-game series with the South Bend Cubs after their 3-0 victory.
How did Nick Lodolo perform in his rehab assignment for the Dayton Dragons?
Nick Lodolo allowed two hits and struck out seven batters in his rehab assignment, marking a strong performance.
What was the significance of Nestor Lorant's performance for the Dayton Dragons?
Nestor Lorant delivered his most dominant performance since joining the Dragons, contributing to the team's shutout victory.