The Dodgers handed the Hounds their first lost of the season 5-7 Tuesday night at Simeon, thanks to a big fifth inning and an early shutdown of the field’s lights.
Reigning team Cy Young Colin French started for the Hounds and held the well-hitting Dodgers to 2 runs on 3 hits and 5 walks. The Hounds defense provided less-than-stellar support, racking up 4 errors.
Offensively, the Hounds here not intimidated by facing the best pitching the Dodgers had to offer. Their ace would gave up 8 hits of which 3 were multi-base. Those multi-base hits came in the 4th when the Hounds took the lead on a triple double combo by Arron “Maybe 2023 is His MVP Year” Kruse (3B), Pedro “Staying Hot” Rondón (SS) and Hans “His Mayorjesty” Hetrick (1B). The game was immediately tied in response, owing to one of the aforementioned errors. The Hounds took the lead in the fifth with a Kruse RBI single scoring Brandon Jessee (CF) and a Rondon 2-RBI single scoring Kruse and Cole Thompson (LF). Phil Zelenka (RF) muscled a line drive single, but just could not get the RBI scored as the runner was caught by a good throw and tag at the plate.
Thrown into the deep end, Jules Cantor (P) marked a rough return to competitive play on the mound. The Dodgers took some walks and made some hard hits, putting up 5 runs to regain the lead. Jules would record two outs, but an error on a would-be third cut his outing short. Japheth “Remember I’m a Pitcher” Bandi (P) came in relief for the third out, and follow-up with a scoreless sixth inning.
A Hounds rally was cut short in the 7th. Propelled by a lead-off “they heard footsteps” ROE by Jules, the Doggos tied the game against the Dodgers fireballing reliever, but the lights shut off mid-inning and safety dictated that the game should be called, the inning reverting to the losing score.
The Hounds provided stiff competition against an always tough opponent despite shakier-than-usual pitching (10 walks total) and shakier-than-usual defense (4 errors total). The team will have plenty of season to tighten up on those counts. Their new winning streak starts anew Sunday morning vs. the Jammers (née DX née Ramirez Baseball née Astros) at Winnemac Park.