Dragons tales:

The Dayton Dragons DAYTON — have lost their last six games, but that doesn’t mean the fun has stopped. Before Sunday’s game against South Bend, Dayton’s locker room was filled with laughter and loud Latin music with several players singing along.

Though the 13-5 loss to the Cubs that followed was little fun, first baseman Bruce Yari said the light mood helps ease tension.

“We really love this team and love to be around each other,” Yari said. “It makes coming to the field fun every day. It’s a great group of guys. I’ve had a blast here.”

Though the Dragons have struggled recently, Yari is playing as well as he has all year. He’s recorded five hits and four RBIs in the series against South Bend, which concludes tonight at Fifth Third Field.

Yari hit an RBI single to center field in the first inning Sunday, and John Sansone followed two batters later with a three-run home run to put Dayton ahead 4-0. The Cubs scored in each of the next six innings to take control.

The Cubs ran away in the fifth when they scored three runs off reliever Alfredo Mena. Luis Ayala and Vimael Machin had RBI singles, and Austin Upshaw hit an RBI double to center field to put South Bend up 9-5.

Game changer:

Yari had a bad slump in June but has found consistency with simplicity in July.

Yari was called up May 14 from extended spring training. He hit .333 through his first two weeks with the team but then struggled with a .195 average over a 20-game stretch in June.

The problem, he discovered, was thinking too much about his swing.

“I’ve been working a lot with