Plate punch:

hits and striking out five. He needed just 10 pitches to strike out the side in the seventh inning. His first pitch that inning was a ball, then he rung up nine straight strikes.

Cox earned the save — his second — with a scoreless ninth in which he struck out two. The three Drag- ons pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts and allowed just two hits.

“It’s fun all around,” Santillan said. “Everyone’s having fun and enjoying themselves.

“We all know once we get on the field it’s time to work, time to compete and we’ve done a good job separating when to have fun and when to get after it.”

Dragons center fielder Jose Siri singled to start the game-deciding fourth inning.

With two outs, first baseman James Vasquez, second baseman Brantley Bell and catcher Cassidy Brown all delivered run-scoring hits to chase losing pitcher Eduardo Del Rosario (2-2).

Vasquez (.250) and Bell (.310) each had two hits and Brown (.157) collected two RBIs.

Dragons tales:

Dayton has outscored opponents 61-12 over the last 10 wins.

The Dragons remain in first place in the ML Eastern Division by 1.5 games over West Michigan (Tigers).

Dayton has won four straight and is coming off a 5-1 road trip against West Division teams.

This is the only series Cedar Rapids will play at Dayton.

The Dragons (21-10) are 11 games above .500 for the first time since they finished the 2011 season with a clubbest 83-57 record.

Dayton led the Class A Midwest League in team hitting (.294) and pitching (2.17 ERA) in April.

Dayton has six shutouts and is the only Midwest League team that hasn’t been shut out.

“I’ve said from the beginning this group of guys are really something special,” Bolivar said. “They know what they’re going for and they keep working hard every day.”

On deck:

Dragons lefthander Scott Moss (3-1, 2.61 ERA) gets the start tonight and will oppose right-hander Tyler Beardsley (3-1, 3.91).

Moss, from Deltona, Fla., and the University of Florida, leads the Midwest League with 46 strikeouts.