The Home Run Fest Continues in Oconomowoc, Dogs Sweep the DockHounds
July 7, 2022 - American Association (AA)
Chicago Dogs News Release
OCONOMOWOC, Wisc. - The power kept consistent and the bullpen continued dominance for the Chicago Dogs, who cap of a series sweep of the Lake Country DockHounds, 8-3.
It was the second comeback in three games, as Chicago once was down 3-2. The Dogs stormed back behind three home runs, two by Michael Crouse and one from Danny Mars. In every game of the series, Chicago hit three home runs and featured a player with two long balls.
To compliment the high run scoring, the Dogs' bullpen tossed 4.2 scoreless innings to close the door on Lake Country. Starter Kyle Murphy allowed three earned runs off of a T.J. Bennett home run in 4.1 innings, but struck out five in his start.
Both teams avoided yielding runs off of busy basepaths in the front two innings, but Chicago broke open scoring in the third from a Crouse home run deep to center field. The Dogs tacked on another run in the fourth when Stevie Wilkerson scurried home from a Grant Kay fielder's choice.
Lake Country fought back in a big way an inning later. The DockHounds hit a pair of singles and Bennett, the former Dog, answered the call with a three-run home run to bring his team the lead. This spoiled an otherwise solid outing for Murphy. He was not flashy in his work, but kept the Lake Country offense quiet through the first four frames.
Lefty James Reeves came in for Murphy quickly retired the DockHounds. Though in his second inning of work, the sidearm slinger allowed a double and single consecutively. The pair advanced on a passed ball and with the right-handed Zion Pettigrew coming to the plate, manager Butch Hobson turned to right-hander Ryan Clark for one out. Similar to how Reeves assisted Murphy, Clark got Pettigrew to fly out and help his teammate get out of the inning.
After the two runs, Lake Country starter Evan Kruczynski settled in and kept the Dogs quiet. He finished the game with six innings pitched, one earned run and nine strikeouts.
Once the DockHounds went to the bullpen, it was a different story. Left-handed reliever Kyle Huckaby entered the game and immediately battled with Crouse on a nine pitch at-bat. Ultimately, Crouse got the best of Huckaby when he launched his second home run of the game that tied the score at three. Crouse entered the game with two home runs on the season and doubled his total to four with the long ball.
Ryan Lidge followed up the blast with a single and K.C. Hobson drew a walk. It only took Danny Mars one pitch to get a good swing on Huckaby and cranked a go-ahead three-run home run over the left field wall. It was the right fielder's third home run and eighth RBI of the series.
That marked the end of the night for Huckaby, who secured only one out and allowed four runs. Right-handed pitcher Cyrillo Watson was brought in to stop the bleeding and did so, but not without first allowing another run to make the score 7-3.
Chicago tacked on another run in the eighth when Charlie Tilson and Crouse hit back-to-back doubles and Tilson scored on a Lidge groundout.
From there it was smooth sailing for the Dogs. Jeff Kinley threw two dominant innings in which he struck out three and ended the game, 8-3. This marked Chicago's second sweep against Lake Country and extended their all-time record to 6-0. In the six meetings, the Dogs have outscored the DockHounds 64-17.
The Dogs get an off-day on Monday, but continue the roadtrip with a three-game series against the Gary SouthShore RailCats. The Railcats come off of a series sweep of their own against the Milwaukee Milkmen, but are 1-2 against Chicago this season.
American Association Stories from July 7, 2022
- Birds Break Out the Brooms Against Sioux City - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Dogs' Offense Can't Get Going, Chicago Falls 3-0 to Kane County - Chicago Dogs
- Chicago Dogs Secure Series Win with Nine-Run Offensive Outburst - Chicago Dogs
- Dogs and Cougars Split on Fourth of July - Chicago Dogs
- The Home Run Fest Continues in Oconomowoc, Dogs Sweep the DockHounds - Chicago Dogs
- Goldeyes Blank Fargo-Moorhead - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Winnipeg Defense Highlights Series-Tying Victory - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Goldeyes Shut Out RedHawks for First Time in 2022 - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- DockHounds Take Series in Gary, Convert Triple Play - Lake Country DockHounds
- Birds Stay Hot, Sweep Doubleheader with Sioux City - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Another Kipper Masterpiece Helps Dogs Coast Past Cougars, 4-1 - Chicago Dogs
- Monarchs Come up Short of Sweep - Kansas City Monarchs
- Monarchs Come up Short of Sweep - Kansas City Monarchs
- Lake Country Comes from Behind to Close Series Out - Gary SouthShore Railcats
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