Chicago Dogs win season opener

Despite a layoff of 305 days, the Chicago Dogs pitchers still were sharp Friday night.

Five Dogs pitchers allowed just 4 hits and 1 run in a 2-1 season-opening baseball victory against the Milwaukee Milkmen in the American Association. Though minor leagues affiliated with Major League Baseball have had their seasons canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dogs play in an independent league that only delayed the start of the season.

The game was played in front of 1,675 socially distanced fans, though few appeared to be wearing masks.

A Tony Rosselli solo home run to left field in the top of the third inning gave the Dogs a 1-0 lead. They went ahead 2-0 in the fifth when center fielder Michael Crouse singled to left, went to second on a groundout, stole third and came home when the throw to third flew into left field.

Milwaukee made the Dogs sweat in the bottom of the ninth, cutting the lead in half when a two-out Logan Trowbridge double to the wall in left scored Dylan Tice from second base. But Dogs reliever Jamie Callahan struck out Zach Nehrir looking to end the game.

Starting pitcher Eric Stout got the win, going five innings. Callahan earned the save.

The teams play again Saturday and Sunday afternoon in Franklin, Wisconsin. The Dogs' 2020 home opener will be 7:05 p.m. Tuesday at Impact Field in Rosemont, playing Milwaukee again.