By Dominic Stearn
Oconomowoc, Wisconsin — Sweeping the RailCats a week ago had the Lake Country DockHounds three games above .500 for the first time since the first week of June last year. Back-to-back sweeps at the hands of the Milwaukee Milkmen and Chicago Dogs with the 5-1 loss Thursday have the Hounds four games below .500 with seven straight defeats.
DockHounds batters struck out 16 times Wednesday, tying a season high from an extra-inning win in June. Lake Country topped that with 17 Ks at the plate Thursday. They have two runs against bullpen arms since the sweep of Gary SouthShore.
Austin Davis turned in a good start aside from the third inning. Four zeros surrounded a three-run third while Davis struck out seven in five frames. The bullpen followed suit with four innings without an earned run, two from both Austin Faith and Edgar Garcia. An error by Marcus Chiu cost Lake Country twoo unearned runs in the seventh inning and halted comeback hopes.
Thursday’s contest started well for Lake Country. Justin Lavey, the leadoff batter, drilled the first pitch he saw in the home half for a solo home run. With 27 outs to go, the DockHounds failed to score again. Lavey added on a single in the fourth inning before a two-out knock by Blake Tiberi was Lake Country’s only hit with a runner on base. Marek Chlup’s single in the eighth inning was the last of four hits against Chicago.
The DockHounds begin the final series of the year in Lake Country Friday with the Milwaukee Milkmen coming to town. First pitch will be at 6:35 CT from Wisconsin Brewing Company Park.
