Wednesday July 26, 2017

Dawgs drop game one in Edmonton

By Dustin Saracini

Edmonton, AB - The (31-12) Okotoks Dawgs’ seven-game winning streak came to an end today, dropping a 7-2 contest at RE/MAX Field against the (23-20) Edmonton Prospects.

Despite the loss, Eddie Sanchez (Central Arkansas) continued his impressive 2017. The third baseman out of Mexico City collected a pair of hits -- good for his 14th multi-hit game of the season -- and finished the day 2-for-4 with a run and a RBI. Matt Lloyd (Indiana University - Okotoks, AB) extended his franchise-high hitting streak to 23 consecutive games, pushing his batting average to .410.

On the mound was rookie Graham Brunner, who tossed five innings, allowing three runs in his first loss of the campaign.

For the second straight contest, both offences were unable to get it done early. Between Brunner and Prospects starter Michael Gahan, only one hit was recorded through two-and-a-half innings.

In the bottom of the third, however, Edmonton broke the game open with a three-run inning. Rallying with two outs, an RBI single and a two-run triple off the right field wall gave the Prospects a 3-0 advantage.

Okotoks cut the deficit to two with their next chance at the plate. Sanchez kicked off the frame, lacing a single down the left field line -- his ninth straight game with a base-knock. Lloyd worked back-to-back singles, finding the 6-5 gap to set the Dawgs up with runners on the corners, later executing the double steal to score their first run of the tilt.

Sanchez was up to much of the same in the top half of the fifth, doubling in a run for his second hit of the contest. Greg Cullen (Niagara University) kept the Dawgs alive with a two-out single, moving Brendan Rose (UBC - Calgary, AB) into scoring position before the latter crossed the plate to bring Okotoks within one.

Edmonton wouldn’t look back after they took a five-run lead in the seventh, scoring four off a trio of singles.

BY THE NUMBERS:

Graham Brunner (R): 5 IP 8 H 3 ER 1 BB 3 K

Eddie Sanchez: 2-4, R, RBI, .347 AVG

Kody Funderburk (R): 1-4, .333 AVG

OF RECORD:

WP: Michael Gahan (1-3) LP: Graham Brunner (1-2)