Chicago Dogs’ (52-32) starter Michael Bowden dealt six innings of one-hit baseball and retired the last 14 hitters he would face to beat the Gary SouthShore RailCats (33-52) with a 3-1 victory in the series opener at the Steel Yard in Gary, Indiana.
Two runs came across for the Dogs in the first after the first three batters would reach safely in the opening frame to load the bases for KC Hobson. The first baseman Hobson delivered a sac-fly to plate the first of two runs in the top inning.
Three batters later with the bases loaded again, TJ Bennett drew one of two walks on the day to give the Dogs a 2-0 lead.
Bowden took it from there as the six-year MLB veteran would quiet the ‘Cats despite a walk and single in the second, the only two base runners that would reach all night against Bowden who struck out seven in his sixth win of the year.
In the fourth, Chicago would add another on an Anfernee Grier RBI-single that put the Dogs on top 3-0 while Gary struggled to find life.
The RailCats’ sole run of the day came on a Jesus Marriaga RBI-triple in the eighth.
Four relievers would complete the win for Chicago, including closer Jeff Kinley who earned his team-high fifteenth save of the season in a four-out close.
Josh Vincent suffered the loss with 4.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and four walks with four strikeouts.
In relief, Jack Eisenbarger showed up for the RailCats with 4.2 innings of scoreless baseball with four hits and two walks while striking out four.
With the win, the Chicago Dogs move into sole possession of first place in the North while the RailCats are officially eliminated from playoff contention after the loss.
Game two between the Gary SouthShore RailCats and the Chicago Dogs is scheduled for tomorrow, August 21 at 4:10 p.m. at the Steel Yard in Gary, Indiana.