Crouse's Late HR Not Enough to Fuel Dogs Comeback
August 3, 2021 - American Association (AA)
Chicago Dogs News Release
Michael Crouse wouldn't let the Dogs go down easily after trailing by five runs in the seventh inning.
Crouse battled through an 0-2 count and crushed a three-run home run over the left field wall. Cutting the deficit to one run, the Dogs seemingly had life.
But Cleburne responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the eighth inning to put any thoughts of a Dogs comeback to rest. The Railroaders claimed an 11-7 win to open a three-game series with the Dogs.
Crouse did his best to fuel the Dogs' lineup on Monday night, driving in four of the team's five RBI. Each of Crouse's clutch hits came with the Dogs' backs against the wall.
Dogs starter AJ Jones allowed four runs in the first inning, but it was Crouse who came through with a rally-igniting RBI single to spark a three-run inning for the Dogs in the third.
Crouse was joined by Grant Kay and Cosimo Cannella as Dogs with two hits on Monday, but the rest of the lineup was held to one hit. The Dogs only struck out five times, but were unable to square the ball up consistently, leading to a night of weak contact at the plate.
Jones was pulled after allowing seven runs in two and two-thirds innings, which resulted in a demanding night from the bullpen. Christian Day was signed by the Dogs on July 21 and was initially used as a starter, but shined in a bullpen role on Monday.
Day tossed two shutout inning while allowing one hits, zero walks and two strikeouts. After a pair of tough starts to begin Day's professional career, he has settled in to throw three and two-thirds scoreless innings in relief in his last two games.
With this loss, the Dogs have now fallen short in four straight games. After being swept by Kansas City over the weekend, the Dogs have two games remaining against Cleburne to try to right the ship before heading back to Impact Field.
On Tuesday, Jordan Kipper will toe the rubber in an effort to turn things around for the Dogs. The Dogs have won five of the last six games in which Kipper has started and will look to continue this trend on Tuesday.
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