The Chicago Hounds lost 3-2 to the league-leading Aviators tonight at Winnemac Park, and now have a 3-6-1 record after 10 games. The Hounds have lost 3 games by 1 run (1 in 9 innings), lost another game by 2 runs, and also tied a game (in 10 innings). But really, the key is that the Hounds just need to score more runs. The defense has been solid, the pitching has been outstanding–in fact, the Hounds have given up the fewest runs per game by all teams in the CMBA–allowing only 4.2 runs per game (league average is 6.32). Unfortunately, the Hounds have also scored fewer runs per game than all teams but 1 (the Vikings).

Jeremy Schmitz (#3, P) deserved the win tonight. Prior to the game he was not sure he could even play, due to a hamstring pull in the last game. But instead, he pitched a complete game, striking out 7 (those strikeouts came in the final 4 frames, as Schmitz kept getting stronger as the game moved on). Schmitz only gave up 1 earned run, as the first 2 Aviators scored on 2 Hound errors in the first. The Aviators scored again in the 2nd, taking a 3-0 lead, but Schmitz completely shut the Aviators down in the next 5 innings, allowing only 2 batters above the minimum the rest of the way. Schmitz gave up 6 hits in the first 2, but then only 1 hit and 1 walk in the next 5. His performance was Burch-like (except for the W).

The Hounds got their scoring in the 2nd and the 6th, but in both innings left a runner at third base. In the 2nd Nolan Bielinski (#4, C) led off with a single. After 2 quick outs, Anthony Correa (#13, 2B) doubled, driving in Bielinski for a 3-1 Aviators lead. Harold Honeyman-Bloede (#40, LF) singled, but the potential rally ended with the next batter and Correa at third. In the 6th inning Brent Schoenbach (#7, 3B) doubled, and then Mike Mudd (#29, RF) singled to drive in Schoenbach for the second Hound run. Unfortunately Mudd got deked by the second baseman as he tried to stretch the single into a double, and was thrown out at 2nd by the right fielder. Bielinski then tripled, but was stranded at third. No more Hound scoring the rest of the way.

The Hounds play the Marlins on Thursday at Winnemac–a rare sighting by the Marlins at Foster and Damen, as the Marlins play 90+% of their games at Southwest Park. The Hounds are in need of a winning streak, and hope to start it Thursday.