Dogs Beat Canaries 6-5 in Wild Game at the Bird Cage
June 13, 2018 - American Association (AA)
Chicago Dogs News Release
Sioux Falls, S.D. - The Dogs hit multiple home runs in a game for the first time in franchise history, and knocked 12 hits for the second straight night to beat the Sioux Falls Canaries 6-5 Tuesday night in a wild affair in Sioux Falls, S.D.
In a see-saw game that featured early offensive fireworks, the Dogs were able to stave off a Sioux Falls comeback and even the season series between the two teams at four wins apiece.
Sioux Falls got the scoring started with two first inning runs on two RBI doubles-one from Blake Schmit and one from Jabari Henry. The Canaries hit six doubles in the game, the most Chicago has given up in a single game all year.
Chicago would respond immediately in the top of the second however, with a three spot against embattled Canaries starter Jim Patterson. Patterson, who entered his fifth start of the season with an 11.30 ERA, was chased from the game before the end of the second frame, after allowing a bases-clearing three run double to Shawon Dunston Jr.
With Kevin Folman on in relief for the Birds in his first game in a Sioux Falls uniform, the Dogs tacked on another run in the top of the third thanks to a Jonathan Moroney opposite-field solo home run. Sioux Falls would get a run back in the bottom of the frame to cut the Chicago lead to 4-3.
The back-and-forth battle continued as Chicago plated another run on an RBI single from Dalton Blaser in the top of the fourth to score Dunston Jr. The Chicago center fielder appeared to pull up lame on the play after being waved around the third base, but with the throw towards the plate cut off along the Sioux Falls infield, the Birds failed to realize Dunston Jr.'s injury, and he was able to limp home. Dustin Jr. came out of the game following the half inning.
With Chicago back in front by two runs, Connor Root found two-out trouble in the bottom of the sixth. After a Matt Dean error with two outs prolonged the inning, Root allowed an RBI infield single off the bat of Mike Hart to cut the Canarie deficit to 5-4. Root was then pulled from the game and Tyler Frohwirth recorded the final out of the frame to escape further damage.
Root's final line registered five and two-thirds innings, seven hits, three earned runs, and four strikeouts. He earned the win, his second of the year, and his second victory over Sioux Falls in six days.
Dean homered with two outs in the top of the seventh to give the Dogs another two-run cushion at 6-4. For Dean, it was the second home run in three games, and it marked the first time in franchise history that the Dogs had hit multiple long balls in one game.
An already bizarre game turned even stranger in the bottom of the eighth, when with two outs, Maxx Garrett lifted a high fly ball down the left field line. Chicago left-fielder Dalton Blaser, who had moved to the outfield after Dunston Jr.'s injury appeared to lose the ball in the lights and over-ran the play, allowing the ball to plop down just inside the foul line for a two-out double. In the very next at-bat, Hart popped a ball into shallow left field, where Michael Baca over-ran the play and once again the ball landed for an RBI double. Taylor Grover then struck out Patrick Fiala to end the frame and strand the tying run at second base.
One night after Tyson Perez blew a save in the bottom of the ninth, Kaohi Downing came on in the ninth for his fifth save opportunity. After Dan Motl reached with a lead-off single to center, Downing induced three straight ground outs to end the game. Downing earned the save, his fourth in five tries.
The Dogs collected 12 hits for the second straight night, matching a franchise single-game record. Chicago has now tallied 12 hits three times this year, with all three coming against the Canaries. The Dogs have recorded 35 hits over their past three games.
With the win, the Dogs now move to 4-4 in one-run games this year. Chicago (6-17) and Sioux Falls (8-15) will resume their four-game set with a Wednesday matinee at Sioux Falls Stadium. Michael Wagner will start for the Dogs, while Cesilio Pimentel takes the mound for Sioux Falls.
First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. The game will be broadcast at www.thechicagodogs.com/broadcasts/ with the Crowne Plaza Pregame Show beginning at 11:45 a.m.
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