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After back-to-back wins against the Chicago Zephyrs, the Hounds (16-6) took on the Rockford Foresters (3-14) on a blistering summer evening. The Hounds were trying to extend their winning streak to five games and stretch their MCL lead on the NWI Oilmen to three games.

 

The Hounds went with lefty Brett Maus (1-3, 2.45 ERA) who last appeared on June 22 in a loss to the Southland Vikings. Maus has not notched a win since the season opener, but has been a workhorse for the Hounds with 22 innings pitched in four starts.

 

The Foresters were trying to snap a three game skid and sent Blake Fiedelman (0-1, 1.20 ERA) to the bump. Fiedelman’s last appearance was July 5 in their loss to the Vikings. This is his third start of the season.

 

In the top of the 2nd inning, a single to left by Brandon Cable brought in the Foresters’ first run of the night making the score 1-0 in their favor.

In the 3rd inning, the Hounds got rolling. Joey White singled to left and advanced to second on a throwing error. Paul DeJong evened the score with a blistering single to center. DeJong advanced to second on a passed ball and Matt Richer wasted little time in doubling to right-center making the score 2-1 Hounds. After  Brian Rodemoyer grounded out, Alex Hegge tripled to deep left followed by a Mitch Gasbarro single. This made the score 4-1 Hounds.

 

In the 4th inning Kyle Klosak (0-5, 6.50 ERA) entered for Fiedelman for his third relief appearance of the season. He has thrown 12 1/3 innings against the dogs entering the game. Unfortunately for Klosak, there was no slowing the Hounds’ bats, especially Richer’s. Richer singled in DeJong making the score 5-1. Rodemoyer didn’t want to hold things up; he proceeded to single Richer in making it 6-1 Hounds.

 

The Foresters started to chip away Maus’ lead by manufacturing a run in the 6th making it 6-2, but that would be all the scoring for them.

 

Maus settled down and got his ‘K’ pitch rolling. Maus went 7 2/3 innings giving up two runs on six hits, striking out six and walking one. Anthony Cunniff (4.26 ERA, 7th App) entered in the 8th inning and Josh Howard (1-0, 7App) in the 9th to help close out the Foresters.

 

The Final: 6-2 Hounds.

 

This made it five in a row for the dogs as they head into a weekend where they have five games on the road. With the loss the Foresters fell to 3-15 and the Hounds built their MCL lead moving to 17-6.

 

Their next game is a double header on Thursday in Indiana against the NWI Oilmen.