Chicago Dogs take series opener against Kansas City Monarchs

A lot of tension was in the air at Impact Field in Rosemont on Friday night for the 2023 Wolff Cup Championship rematch between the Chicago Dogs and the Kansas City Monarchs.

The Dogs won 6-4.

Matt Walker, the starting pitcher for the Dogs, was originally slated to start the series finale in Sioux Falls, until the game was postponed due to weather.

Walker got off to a shaky start in the first inning, putting two runners on base for former major-leaguer Travis Swaggerty, who hammered a 3-run home run to left field. Swaggerty is one of three former major-leaguers on the Monarchs roster.

Walker quickly rebounded from his rocky first inning, not allowing any additional runs until the fifth inning, where he allowed one.

Walker, the winning pitcher, finished his night with a line of five innings pitched, four runs on seven hits, one walk allowed and three strikeouts.

The Dogs offense rolled into the series hot, scoring five runs in the first five innings.