Chicago Dogs Rally Past Houston Apollos 6-4

July 18 2021 The Chicago Dogs overcame an early four-run deficit to defeat the Houston Apollos 6-4. Houston scored all four of its runs in the first inning, while Chicago answered with one run in the third before taking the lead with three runs in the seventh and adding two more in the eighth. Chicago finished with 10 hits and no errors, while Houston had eight hits and one error.

Mike Crouse led Chicago with a home run, one hit and three RBI. Ryan Lidge also homered and finished with two RBI, while Garrett Kay collected three hits and scored once. Houston’s Daniel Aldrich drove in two runs, and Yeiler Peguero had two hits and scored a run. Blake Berry and Alvaro Gonzalez each added an RBI for the Apollos.

John Baker earned the win for Chicago after allowing no runs and no hits with two strikeouts in 1.2 innings of relief. A. Jones worked 5.2 innings and allowed four runs on seven hits with three strikeouts, while the Chicago pitching staff held Houston scoreless over the final eight innings. Matt Cronin gave Houston five innings of one-run baseball with three strikeouts before the Apollos’ bullpen surrendered the decisive runs. Keisy Portorreal was charged with the loss.