David Holmberg tossed six shutout innings in earning his third victory of the season as the Milwaukee Milkmen defeated the Chicago Dogs, 5-2. Logan Trowbridge provided the big bat, driving in two and Aaron Hill had three hits in the contest. Karch Kowalczyk came on to record his second save of the season, but it was not an easy save.

After a scoreless first inning, the Milkmen would score three in the bottom of the second, taking the lead and never relinquishing it. Eddie Butler struck out David Washington to start the frame, but Zach Nehrir reached on an error before Adam Walker walked. That brought Trowbridge to the plate, who laced a double into the gap. Both runners came around to score to put Milwaukee on top, 2-0. Christian Correa was then hit by a pitch and Hill beat out a grounder for single to load the bases with one out. Brett Vertigan followed by grouding a ball to third. Joey Terdoslavich went home, nailing Trowbridge on the fielder’s choice, but the bases were still loaded. Dylan Tice followed with a single that scored Correa to extend the lead to three.

In the fifth, the Milkmen added another run. Vertigan led off with a double and made a head’s up play to advance to third. A grounder by Tice was in the hole between short and third, leaving no one covering the base. That allowed Vertigan to move over which proved to be huge as he scored on a wild pitch to give Milwaukee a 4-0 lead.

That was plenty enough support for Holmberg (3-1). The left-hander’s only trouble came in the first when he gave up two singles and a walk to load the bases with two down but struck out Michael Crouse to end the threat. He yielded just two more hits over the next five innings and left after six without yielding any runs. He struck out seven.

With Holmberg’s night over, the Dogs went to work against Anthony Bender. Victor Roache led off the top of the seventh with his third homerun of the season. Bender struck out the next two batters, but Blake Allemand kept the inning alive with a double and he scored on a single by Edwin Arroyo.

Milwaukee added one more run in the eighth. Walker and Trowbridge delivered back-to-back singles with one out. Walker later scored on a passed ball to make this a 5-2 Milkmen lead.

In the ninth, the Dogs had the chance to take the lead. Kowalczyk came on and yielded a walk to Tony Rosselli before Ryan Haug singled. Allemand then drew a walk, loading the bases with one down and Arroyo at the plate. He struck out though and Terdoslavich grounded to first to end the game.

Trowbridge finished 2-4 with two RBI and Nehrir had two hits and a run scored. Walker scored two runs. The Dogs got two hits from Arroyo and Roache.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier