Chicago Dogs end losing streak, shut out Sioux City

Following getting swept on the road, the Chicago Dogs returned to the win column, shutting out Sioux City at home 2-0.

Chicago starting pitcher Steven Lacey escaped an early jam in the first inning, striking out Zac Vooletich to leave two runners on base.

Following the first inning, the Explorers didn’t have much pop in their bats until the fourth inning, when John Nogowski hit the ball off the wall in left field. Nogowski’s efforts weren’t enough, as Dogs left fielder Jesus Lujano fired the ball to Brantley Bell at second base for the tag out.

Lujano showed off his arm in his season debut while also adding a single to his outing in the late innings.

Anthony Velez, Sioux City’s starting pitcher, held the Dogs scoreless until the sixth inning. Bell had the Dogs’ first extra-base hit, a one-out double. Narciso Crook, who leads the American Association in home runs, continued to hit, clobbering his sixth home run of the season, putting the Dogs on the scoreboard 2-0.

Steven Lacey’s mound dominance continued, throwing seven innings of scoreless baseball. Lacey, the winning pitcher, has only allowed one earned run through his first two starts of the season.

Lacey was relieved by Cal Coughlin and Joey Marciano, who each threw one inning of work, not allowing a hit. Marciano was awarded the save, his second.

The Dogs will look to take the series Saturday, behind John Baker on the mound.