In the series opener, the Gary SouthShore RailCats (13-16) powered a late-inning rally to tighten up an initial six-run deficit against the Chicago Dogs (19-11), but fell short in an 8-5 final.
The Dogs, who currently sit solely in first place of the American Association, scored six runs through the first three innings of the game, taking a daunting 6-0 lead over Trevor Lubking and the RailCats.
Lubking suffered the loss after 4.2 innings on the mound, allowing six runs on ten hits while walking two and striking out three.
The win goes to Jake Dahlberg, improving to 2-2 on the year with 5.1 innings of two-run baseball on three hits with five strikeouts.
In the sixth, Phil Caulfield doubled in Tyler Van Marter on a liner into right to get the ‘Cats on the board. The lead shrunk even more after Hayden Schilling blasted a three-run shot over the left-field fence to cut into a 6-4 lead.
The RailCats had multiple opportunities to tie the game, with the best shot in the top of the seventh. Yet, with the bases loaded, Gary SouthShore let it fall through the cracks, leaving three stranded.
In his first game of the season, TJ Bennet was sensational at the dish for Chicago. A late signee heading into the series opener, Bennet went 3-for-5 with a 2-run home run in the eighth to make the lead 8-4.
Daniel Lingua drove one more across the plate in the ninth, but the damage had already been done as the Dogs took game one of the three-game set.
Game two between the Gary SouthShore RailCats and the Chicago Dogs is scheduled for tomorrow, June 19 at 7:05 p.m. at Impact Field in Chicago.