Former first-rounder on mend throws two innings for Dragons

Justin Dunn made his first rehab appearance for the Dayton Dragons on Sunday at Day Air Ball Park, allowing one run on three hits in two innings.

Dunn, one of the three players the Cincinnati Reds acquired from the Seattle Mariners in March in the trade involving Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suarez, has been on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation all season. This was his first appearance since June 17, 2021, with Seattle.

The Dragons trailed 1-0 when Dunn left the game but took the lead on backto-back home runs by Austin Hendrick and J.V. Martinez in the second inning and led the rest of the way, beating Lake County 4-2 in front of a crowd of 7,712.

This was the last game of a seven-game series. The Dragons, who were eliminated from first-half playoff contention with a 3-0 loss Wednesday in the second game of a doubleheader, won three of the games. They lost 17-2 on Saturday night in front of a crowd of 8,204.

Dunn, 26, was a first-round pick (19th overall) of the New York Mets in 2016. He made it to the big leagues in 2019 with the Seattle Mariners and made four appearances that season. He was 4-1 with a 4.34 ERA in 10 starts in 2020 and 1-3 with a 3.75 ERA in 11 starts last season before being sidelined by shoulder trouble.

Dunn is the fourth Red to make a rehab appearance for the Dragons this season, following Joey Votto, Luis Castillo and Jake Fraley.

After Dunn left the game, relievers Evan Kravetz, Miguel Medrano, and Braxton Roxby combined to allow just one run in the last seven innings.

Dayton added to its lead in the third inning. Allan Cerda’s double scored Daniel Vellojin. Then a single by Ruben Ibarra scored Cerda.

Dayton is off Monday and opens a six-game series at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday against the Great Lakes Loons in Midland, Mich. The Dragons return home on July 4 to open a six-game series against the West Michigan Whitecaps.