The Chicago Dogs may be the newest team in the American Association, but they sure are scrappy, as they fought hard on Monday afternoon before losing 6-3 to the St. Paul Saints.
The Saints were assisted by a five-run bottom of the fifth inning.
Chicago wasted no time, scoring in the top of the first inning as Kyle Gaedele drew a leadoff walk and advanced when Treysen Vavra grounded out. Jonathan Moroney then stepped up to the plate and fouled a pitch off his left leg.
After a lengthy examination by athletic trainers, he was removed from the game in favor of Matt Telesco, who proceeded to strike out on the first pitch. Craig Maddox then singled to score Gaedele.
Connor Root got the start for the Dogs, and for the first few innings, he was pitching like an MLB veteran. It took the Saints until the fourth inning to get a hit, and they did not score until the fifth inning when they erupted for five runs.
It all started on a leadoff single from Jayce Boyd, who advanced to third when Noah Perio Jr. doubled. They both scored when Dante Bichette Jr. singled to put the Saints ahead.
After two straight strikeouts, the Saints continued their hit parade when Josh Allen singled, and Richard Prigatano drew a walk to load the bases for Max Murphy, who delivered a bases-clearing double down the right-field line to extend the lead to 5-1.
The inning ended after Brady Shoemaker grounded out to second base.
The Dogs easily could have folded after the fifth inning, but they didn’t. They got two runs back in the top of the sixth inning after a leadoff walk and a single, with both runners coming around to score later in the inning when Michael Baca singled to bring in two runs and cut the Saints lead to 5-3.
The Saints got another run in the bottom of the seventh when Kes Carter led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Josh Allen.
Carter scored when Prigatano singled to make it a 6-3 Saints lead.
Chicago once again managed to keep the game close, as in the top of the eighth inning Matt Dean hit a one-out single and advanced to third on a single from former Twins farmhand Joe Benson. Dean scored when Baca hit a sacrifice fly to right field to cut the lead to just two runs.
Chicago had a scoring chance in the top of the ninth as Gaedele led off with a double, but he was stranded at second as the Saints went on to win their 2018 home opener. The two teams will play game two of the series on Tuesday evening.
The Saints will send RHP Vinny Nittoli to the mound. He will be opposed by Tommy Thorpe.
Notes
- The Dogs have an interesting family connection to one of the more famous MLB players, though to get there you have to use the term player loosely. Kyle Gaedele is the grand-nephew of Eddie Gaedel, who is known as the shortest MLB player in history. The 3-foot-7 Gaedel made his only MLB appearance on August 19, 1951. He drew a walk and was immediately removed for a pinch-runner. His contract was voided the next week by American League President Will Harrdige. Gaedel was signed by Bill Veeck, who is the father of Mike, one of the co-owners of the Saints.
- Twins fans may remember the name Joe Benson, who was a Twins farmhand after being drafted in the second round of the 2006 MLB draft. He is currently on the Dogs roster and went 1-for-3 with a single on Monday. Benson spent last season with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League before signing with the Dogs for this season.
- Another Chicago connection to Minnesota is Treysen Vavra, who is the first baseman for the Dogs. Aside from the fact that his brother Tanner played parts of two seasons for the Saints, his father is Joe Vavra, who is a former coach and player for the Twins. Trey spent last season with the Sioux Falls Canaries.
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