The Chicago Hounds defeated the Red Sox 9-5 tonight at Winnemac Park, improving their record to 8-3 on the season.
The game started in grand fashion, as a trombonist in deep centerfield, shirtless, wearing a fedora, treated both teams to a stirring rendition of the national anthem. It was really good, no lie. Don’t hate on hipsters, especially not ones who can bring it. (He also played a sad tune as Mike Mudd (#29, RF) had to come off the field after hurting himself attempting to dive for a ball.)
The Red Sox are much improved this year, and came into the game with a 4-4-1 record. They had a solid pitcher on the hill, a new guy, who struck out 9 Hounds in his 4 innings of work. But the bottom of the lineup did some damage against him, as the 8-9-10 batters for the Hounds combined to score 6 of the Hound runs.
Tony Correa (#13, as Nolan’s girlfriend Anna can attest, 2B) reached safely all three times and scored all three times (single, walk, walk). Matt Burch (#6, no, NOT 42, DH/1B) got a rare start in the lineup, and made the most of it, with a 2 RBI smash in the 4th, and he also scored a run. Matthew Steffens (#5, SS) singled and walked, and scored twice.
The other two runs came from Nolan Bielinski (#4, C) who reached on an error in the 4th and scored (Nolan also had a single, reached on another error, walked, and stole 2 bases) and TJ Rinaldi (#1, CF) who reached on a hit-by-pitch–Lucas McKinney would have been so proud.
The Hounds defense was solid, as was it’s pitching. Brian Hearns (#30, P/DH) pitched the first 3, Joe Wietecha (19, 3B/P/3B) only gave up 1 run in an inning, and Mike Marra (#15, LF/P) threw 2 scoreless innings in the near dark, striking out 4 batters.
The Red Sox had several key errors today, which killed their chances of winning, but the Hounds took advantage with good baserunning, timely hitting, and again, solid defense and pitching. The Hounds have actually given up the fewest runs per game in the league, only 3.55 runs per game, v. the league average of 6.14.
The Hounds play again tomorrow v. the Yankees at Winnemac at 12:15 pm. We hope to see Laura and Meghan out for two games in a row, and as many of our fans as possible!