The Chicago Dogs jumped out to a 5-0 lead on Wednesday night, thanks in large part to a three run third inning. However, the Wichita Wingnuts battled back only to see their comeback fall short with the tying run at the plate in the ninth as Chicago held on for a 5-3 victory. Trevor Simms had a perfect game through five. The loss snapped the Wingnuts five-game winning streak and snapped Tyler Kane’s personal five-game win streak.

Chicago jumped out in front in the bottom of the first inning against Wichita Wingnuts starter Tyler Kane. Kenny Wilson led off with a double and moved to third when Edwin Arroyo followed with a single into left field. That brought Trey Vavra to the plate, who hit into a double play, but Wilson scored on the play to give the Dogs a 1-0 lead.

It would stay a one run game until the bottom of the third when the Chicago Dogs would plate three runs. A single by Rey Gonzalez started the inning before Wilson walked. A single by Arroyo loaded the bases and Vavra gave his team a two-run lead when he singled into left field scoring Gonzalez. Wilson attempted to score as well but the throw from Tony Thomas to the plate was perfect to nail the runner. Joe Benson then doubled into centerfield. Both Arroyo and Vavra came home to score on the play with Benson being thrown out at third trying for a triple. However, Chicago led, 4-0.

In the sixth, the Dogs would add one more run. Benson led off the inning with his sixth homer of the year to put Chicago up by five.

That was plenty enough support for Trevor Simms on this night, as the right-hander was in complete command of this game through the first five innings. He had a perfect game going which he finally saw come to an end when John Nester led off the top of the sixth with a base hit into left field. However, Nester was thrown out trying to stretch that into a double and Simms had retired the minimum through six.

The Wichita Wingnuts had absolutely no answers for Simms, that is until the seventh. Logan Watkins led off the inning by drilling his third home run of the season over the wall in right field to cut the deficit to four.

Trevor Simms (1-1) would come out after seven. He gave up only 2-hits and did not walk a batter. He struck out a season-high nine in just his third start of the season, while lowering his ERA to 2.35.

Kaohi Downing came on in the eighth and retired the first batter of the inning, but the newly acquired Angel Reyes doubled into left field and scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to three.

In the ninth, Taylor Grover came in looking to earn his sixth save of the season. He retired the first batter of the inning but gave up a single to Abel Nieves. With two down, Chase Simpson singled into right field and Nieves scored on a wild pitch. Reyes was now at the plate with two down and a runner at second, but he struck out to end the game as Chicago won 5-3.

Joe Benson finished 2-4 with a run and 3-RBI for Chicago. Edwin Arroyo had three hits and scored a run. No Wichita player had more than one hit in the game. The loss moved the Wingnuts to 5-3 on their 20 game road trip.

These two teams will square off tomorrow to close out their four game series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier