Five unearned first-inning runs by the Yard Dogs put the Bats in a hole too deep to dig out of on Sunday.  The Bats went on to lose, 9-2, as both teams evened their season record at 1-1.

Nine Yard Dogs came to bat in the inning despite managing only two hits against starter Matt Weiss. The visiting squad was aided by an overly generous Bats team who committed 3 errors along with 2 walks in the frame.

The bottom half of the inning proved to be almost as sloppy for the Yard Dogs.  Bats leadoff man Earl Blankenship reached second on a throwing error and moments later advanced to third on an errant pick off attempt.  Kevin Molbeck brought him home with a sacrifice fly to center field.  Don Gragnani then walked and eventually scored following two-out singles by Bob Gurchak and Mike Hareng to cut the lead to 5-2.  Matt Weiss would single to to load the bases but the bases were left loaded as Ron Skrabacz grounded out to third.

The Bats would go on to collect only 3 more hits over the final six innings while the Yard Dogs would add 4 more runs en route to their first victory of the young season.  Weiss pitched four innings for the Bats and allowed 8 runs with only 2 of them earned.  Hareng would come on to pitch the fifth and sixth innings allowing the final Yard Dogs run while striking out 4 batters.  John Moulchin pitched a scoreless seventh for the Bats.

The Bats next game will be on Sunday, May 21 at 10 a.m. against the Cubs at Emricson Park in Woodstock, Ill. 

BATS DROPPINGS

The Bats failure to win their second straight game means they have still not won two games in a row since 2011 when they defeated the Grays, 15-6, on Aug. 14 and the Cubs, 21-14, on Aug. 21. ...... Don Gragnani reached base 3 times with 2 walks and a fourth-inning single.  That hit extended his hitting streak to 13 games including an 11-game streak to end last season. ...  Gragnani's 13-game hitting streak is the third longest in Bats history behind Ken Kozlik (16 games) and Randy Harris (14 games) both over two seasons. .... The longest hitting streak in a single season for the Bats is 12 games.