The Hounds guaranteed at least a season series split with a win against the Dodgers on Sunday.
Winnemac field required some TLC + additional time in order to be playable. Many of the Hounds worked in the early hours to make the field playable for the game. Tony “I’m the Manager” Correa dished out the diamond dry like he had stock in it. Big shout out to all those that helped. Due to the overnight rain the game time was pushed back from 9:30 to 10:30. The break allowed the Hounds to get themselves some performance enhancing coffees (PEC) at nearby Side Practice Coffee. The Hounds pregame infield/outfield and bullpen warmups were stellar. Given the circumstances provided by the rushing umpire, out of uniform Jules “The Weatherman” Cantor performed a solid infield/outfield pregame allowing our fielders to show off their skills. Atticus “Chili Lime” Conway proclaimed that his arm has never felt better, in the words of this particular writer he was chucking gas. It could be argued the game was over before it even started.
The Doggos were somehow the away team in this only Winnemac game of the season series. The top of the first was started by a 2 out bomb of a triple by shortstop Greg “Baseball is Stupid” Sells. Sells crossed the plate on the next at bat by Pedro “The Flash” Rondon’s hard hit single past the shortstop. The Hounds surrendered 3 singles that led to 2 runs in the bottom half of the first. Back to Back singles by Timmy “Birthday” Riggenbach and Phil “Charles in Charge” Zelenka in the top of the 2nd got the Hounds going again. A Cole “I only hit wood bat bombs” Thompson sacrifice fly plated Riggenbach for the Hounds 2nd run, tying the game. Conway made efficient work of the bottom half of the 2nd allowing a ROE and nothing else. The bottom half of the 2nd was ended with an excellent line drive catch at the hot corner by Eric “Pitcher & Ringer” Frontzak.
The wheels started falling off for the Dodgers in the top half of the 3rd. The Hounds collected 3 singles (Samuel “Big Tuna” Ortiz, Sells, & Riggenbach) and a crucial ROE by Rondon to gather 3 runs. RBI’s were collected by Rondon, Matt “I like drinking alcohol” Burch, & Riggenbach. The Hounds got out of a very tough spot in the bottom half of the 3rd with a bases loaded 6-4-3 “Double Play”. A quick turn at the keystone by Sells/Rondon to an extended Burch who may or may have not caught it crushed the Dodger momentum in the 3rd inning. The top half of the 4th led to some more Winnemac Dodger misery. Frontzak led off the inning with a hard hit ball to the shortstop which he was unable to gather later followed by a Colin “lanceur de gaz” French walk. Frontzak scored on an opposite field liner by Ortiz. Sells was then hit by a pitch. French and Ortiz scored on a pulled down the line scorcher by Rondon. Burch followed with a hit by pitch. Rondon scored on a line drive single by Riggenbach. Burch then ran the Hounds out of the rally by trying to time the pitchers throw to the plate. Conway came out in the bottom half of the 4th and made quick work of the Dodgers striking out 2 to leave the frame scoreless.
Due to the inclement weather within the 5 inning, this is where the game officially ended. The records will strike a 5th inning single by Zelenka, and an RBI by Thompson. It will also strike a strikeout by Conway in the bottom half of the 5th. A monsoon of rain swallowed Winnemac park with 2 outs in the Dodger half of the 5th making the field unplayable. The official ending score was 10-3 Hounds. The Hounds came to play with great at bats, decent defense, excellent pitching, and most importantly terrific attitudes.
The game was attended by the Correas (Big T & Linda), Melanie, Laura & Ian, Jocelyn, & The Frontzak Family. After the game some of the Hounds and attendees went to K’s Dugout to wash down some Jimmy Johns with Miller High Lifes and High Noons. Another wonderful day to be a Chicago Hound!
Singles – Ortiz (2), Sells, Rondon, Riggenbach (3), Zelenka
Doubles – Rondon
Triples – Sells
Runs – French, Ortiz (2), Sells (3), Rondon (2), Riggenbach, Frontzak
RBI – Ortiz, Rondon (3), Burch, Riggenbach (3), Thompson
Atticus Conway Line:
4 IP – 69 – 6 H – 3 R – 2 ER – 3 K – 1 BB.