It must have felt like déjà vu for the St. Paul Saints on Friday night as they made their first trip ever to Impact Field, home of the Chicago Dogs. With a look very much like CHS Field, St. Paul had to feel like they were at home, but the luster wore off quickly as Chicago scored three runs in the bottom of the first on their way to a 4-2 victory. Josh Goossen-Brown earned the victory, combining with three relievers to allow just two runs, giving the Dogs their seventh win of the season.

The Chicago Dogs got rolling in the bottom of the first. With one down, Edwin Arroyo grounded a single up the middle. Two batters later, Joe Benson would walk bringing Matt Dean to the plate. He grounded a ball to short that was misplayed for an error, bringing Arroyo home to put Chicago on top by one. Ryan Wagner followed with a two-run double and the Dogs were quickly up 3-0.

It would stay that way until the fourth when St. Paul would get one of those runs back. A single by Noah Perio, Jr. started the inning. He stole second and advanced to third on a ground out. With Perio at third and one down, Dante Bichette, Jr. grounded out to short, bringing the runner home to cut the deficit to two.

An inning later the Saints would pull within one. Jayce Boyd led off with a double and moved to third on a ground out. He would get gunned down at the plate on a fielder’s choice by JJ Gould, but Kes Carter doubled to move two runners into scoring position. That brought Max Murphy to the plate, who hit a sharp grounder to the second baseman, beating out the throw for a base hit while bringing Gould home.

Chicago responded with a run in the bottom of fifth. Jonathan Moroney started the inning with a sharp single into left field. He moved to second on a wild pitch and reached third on a ground out. A second wild pitch of the inning brought Moroney home to make it 4-2.

Josh Goosen-Brown (2-2) came out after 5.2-innings. He allowed 8-hits and 2-runs. Goossen-Brown walked none and struck out 2.

Jared Carkuff came on with two down in the sixth and retired the final batter, going 1.1 of scoreless relief. Taylor Grover pitched a scoreless eighth and Chicago turned to Kaohi Downing in the ninth looking to close it out. He retired the side on nine pitches for his fifth save of the season.

Eddie Medina (2-2) took the loss despite giving up just one earned run in 6.2-innings pitched. He struck out 7.

Ryan Wagner was 2-4 with 2-RBI. Noah Perio, Jr. finished 2-4 with a run for St. Paul.

These two teams will go at it again tomorrow. St. Paul will send RHP Jake Esch (3-1, 5.26) to the hill. He will be opposed by LHP Scott Barnes (0-0, 4.15). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier