Strong Bullpen, Timely Hit Lead Dogs over RailCats
June 26, 2018 - American Association (AA)
Chicago Dogs News Release
Rosemont, Ill. - A Joe Benson seventh inning, go-ahead RBI single and five and two-thirds scoreless innings from the Chicago bullpen helped the Dogs snap a four-game losing streak with a 7-6 victory over the Gary SouthShore RailCats Monday night at Impact Field.
The Benson knock capped a see-saw affair between the two teams that saw early offensive fireworks and a pitcher's duel between the two bullpens late.
Chicago scored the game's first four runs thanks to five hits in the bottom of the second inning. Tony Rosselli and Ryan Wagner doubled in the frame off Gary starter Alex Gunn, with Wagner's two-bagger plating a pair of runs. Two batters later, with two outs in the inning, Mike Falsetti hit his first home run of the year after an eight-pitch battle between he and Gunn. One night after going 2-3 with a pair of RBI, Falsetti finished Monday's opener 1-2 with a home run and a walk.
With the Dogs up 4-0 Gary would get on the scoreboard with one run in the top of the third, and then would jump in front thanks to a five run top of the fourth. Gary sent ten men to the plate in the inning, and knocked seven hits, including four extra-base hits, while chasing Chicago starter Michael Wagner from the game in the process.
The Dogs wasted little time responding, however, as a Rosselli solo home run coupled with a Jonathan Moroney RBI single knotted the game back up at 6-6. For Moroney, it was the third hit in a game in which he extended his hitting streak to a season-high 12 games.
With neither starter throwing a pitch beyond the fourth inning, the game quickly evolved into a battle of the two teams' bullpens. For Chicago, Brandon Shimo worked two and two-thirds scoreless innings, Jared Carkuff chipped in a scoreless inning and two-thirds of his own, and Tommy Thorpe tallied the final four outs of the game. Thorpe earned the save for the Dogs in his first opportunity to do so on the year.
Chicago would finally break the tie thanks to Benson's two-out RBI in the bottom of the seventh inning. One batter after Edwin Arroyo had been thrown out trying to score at the plate, Benson snuck a ball through the middle of the infield to plate Treysen Vavra and give the Dogs the lead 7-6.
Rosselli finished the game 3-4 with two doubles and a home run.
The Dogs and RailCats will resume their series Tuesday morning as Impact Field plays host to its first ever weekday matinee crowd. First pitch is scheduled for 11:35 a.m. The game will be broadcast at www.thechicagodogs.com/broadcasts/ with the Crowne Plaza Pregame Show beginning at 11:25 a.m.
Follow the team on social media at @TheChicagoDogs on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. For more information, visit TheChicagoDogs.com.
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