By Jack Ankony
Johnny Adams hit a chopper towards the Kane County shortstop, and one could assume the inning would be over.
Galli Cribbs Jr. mishandled the ball, and Adams was safe at first base to give the Dogs life. As the ball deflected off Cribbs Jr.’s glove, Danny Mars of the Dogs used heads-up base running to advance to third base.
Then it was time for Grant Kay to do what Grant Kay does best. A simple, short approach resulted in a line drive single to right field to score Mars and give the Dogs a 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth inning.
The big lefty Kevin Marnon kept the Cougars at bay by striking out three in the bottom half, and Dogs closer Paul Schwendel shut things down in the ninth despite some control issues. Mitch Reeves led Kane County with three RBI in the series, but all he could do was watch as Schwendel painted a 97 mile-an-hour fast ball for strike three.
Kay’s ability to capitalize on Cribbs Jr.’s mistake in the eighth allowed the Dogs to hang and defeat Kane County 3-2. This win moves the Dogs to 2-1 on the season, and hands the Cougars their first series loss as a member of the American Association of Professional Baseball.
Former Chicago Cub Michael Bowden toed the rubber to begin the game for the Dogs and did his job in his first start of the season. After giving up a first-inning home run to Reeves, Bowden settled down and let his defense work behind him.
Bowden pitched five innings, allowing two hits, one earned run, two walks and three strikeouts. His two walks came in the second inning, so from the third inning on, it was quite an efficient night for the 34-year-old veteran.
After facing an early 1-0 deficit, K.C. Hobson and Johnny Adams proved they had Bowden’s back by cranking back-to-back home runs in the top of the fourth inning. Hobson’s moonshot left the park with no doubt, and Adams’ right-field blast gave the Dogs their first lead of the game.
Jeff Kinley was credited with the win for the Dogs after one inning of work where he allowed three hits, one earned run and struck out two. Next up for the Dogs is an unusual road trip to Jackson, Tennessee where they will face the Winnipeg Goldeyes.
Due to COVID-19 and Canada’s border restrictions, the Goldeyes will be playing their 2021 games in Jackson, Tennessee. The Dogs will look to keep the bats hot and the pitching sharp as they continue a nine-game roadtrip to begin the season before the home opener on May 28th versus Sioux City.