By Sam Brief, Chicago Dogs

KANSAS CITY, KANSAS – The Dogs were homesick tonight.

In their first road game of the season, the Chicago Dogs fell to the reigning league champion Kansas City Monarchs 4-3 behind an explosive second inning.

Monarchs right-handed starter Akeem Bostick was dominant. The 2013 second-round MLB draftee threw five innings and allowed one run off of one hit. He allowed his lone run in the second inning, but retired his last 12 batters to contain the Dogs hitters.

On the bump for Chicago was left-handed starter Shane Barringer. The southpaw gave up four runs and three walks over six innings, but retired his last eight hitters to keep his team in the ballgame. This comes after he tossed five shutout frames against Gary in his season debut.

In the top of the second inning, Grant Kay drew the team’s third walk to that point, which brought up shortstop Connor Kopach, who sat on a four-game hit streak coming into today. The first-year Dog stepped in a delivered once more with a double that brought two runners in scoring position and his streak up to five.

With the opportunity to deliver early, Charlie Tilson grounded into a fielder’s choice. Kay came to score to put Chicago up 1-0.

The Dogs wouldn’t hold the lead for long. Monarchs right fielder Jan Hernandez led off the frame by getting himself to second base off of a walk and an error. David Thompson singled and with runners on the corners Hernandez came home off of a Casey Gillespie fielder’s choice.

Barringer walked the next hitter, Alexis Olmeda, and with Gillespie at second, Joel Booker smacked a RBI double to give Kansas City the lead. It wouldn’t get easier from there. Darnell Sweeney singled to score Olmeda, and Booker came around to score two batters later.

Barringer eventually struck out Gabriel Guerrero, but the damage was already done. At the end of the second, the score sat at 4-1, Monarchs.

The Monarchs brought in right-handed reliever Matt Blackham in the sixth, and Danny Mars immediately ripped a double. He advanced to third base off of a wild pitch, and came around to score on K.C. Hobson’s ground out. Since May 15, Mars has raked. That double marked his fifth straight game with an extra-base hit and his hot bat has boosted Chicago’s offense.

That double sparked Kay to match the energy. The second baseman sent a high fly over the fence, his second home run of the year, to bring the Dogs within one. In the middle of the sixth, the score all of a sudden sat at 4-3.

Chicago continued to build momentum when facing Blackham, but just fell short on tying the game. Cosimo Cannella advanced to first on a hit-by-pitch, but Joshua Mosley grounded into a double play. Tilson then hit a double to give the Dogs another runner in scoring position. Kansas City brought in lefty Jordan Martinson to face Michael Crouse, and got the job done with a fly-out to center field.

Right-handed pitcher Joe Cavallaro relieved Barringer and made quick worth of the always scary Monarchs lineup. Cavallaro pitched two perfect innings and racked up three strikeouts.

This loss puts the Dogs under .500 for the first time this season, at 3-4. Chicago will try and climb back into the winning column tomorrow with right-hander Carl Brice making his first start of the year. For Kansas City, they will send out left-handed pitcher Lewis Thorpe, who pitched 59.1 career MLB innings for the Minnesota Twins.