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The MCL leading DuPage Hounds were home to take on the Chicago Zephyrs on a beautiful Tuesday night in Lisle. The Hounds went 3-2 over the weekend that included splitting a double header with the Zephyrs. The Hounds (19-8) were looking to keep their first place lead in the MCL and propel themselves into the playoffs as the Zephyrs (6-18) looked to foil their plans.

 

The Hounds went with their workhorse Brett Maus (2-3, 2.42 ERA) as the Zephyrs countered with Alex Brown (1-1, 2.25 ERA). Maus pitched last Tuesday in the win against the Foresters.

 

The action started in the bottom of the second when Chase Toth had a bases clearing triple to make the score 2-0 Hounds. This was Toth’s first triple of the summer.

 

In the seventh inning, Brown was replaced by Jeremy Karasewski (7 app, 6.51 ERA). Brown went six innings giving up five hits and two runs. He walked four and had one strikeout.

 

The Hounds jumped on Karasewski early. After DeJong was hit by a pitch, Matt Richer and Brian Rodemoyer singled to load the bases for Alex Hegge. Hegge wasted little time as he doubled to left-center to bring in DeJong and Richer. There was still no out in the inning. Drew LaComb was hit by a pitch which loaded the bases again.

 

A call to the pen was in order and Zach Liberatore (0-2, 5.22 ERA) replaced Karasewski who recorded no outs in the disastrous seventh inning. Mitch Gasbarro hit a sac fly to right field that brought in Rodemoyer. The score moved to 5-0 in favor of the Hounds.

 

Maus really was in a groove starting in the third inning. He struck out eight consecutive batters which broke the MCL record for most consecutive strikeouts. He also retired 18 batters in a row. On the night, Maus threw nine innings of shutout two hit baseball. He walked two and had 13 strikeouts.

 

The final: 5-0 Hounds

 

The Hounds moved to 20-8 on the season and the Zephyrs dropped to 6-19. The Hounds take on the Southland Vikings on the road on Thursday. That game begins at 7 p.m.