The Sticks hit 3 HR in a 4-2 win over the Dentists, including a 2-run homer by Joey
The Fish Sticks took Game 1 of their best of 5 series against 4 out of 5 Dentists 4-2 as Blose and Joey each drove in a pair of runs and Dinger gave up only 2 hits.
Braydn was the first batter of the 2011 EWL playoffs, and Dinger retired him as he grounded out to right field. Dinger then retired Marr for the second out of the inning for a scoreless top of the first.
The Dentists sent Ron to the mound, and his arrival in the 2011 playoffs wasn’t as smooth. Blose led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run, picking up where he left off in week 10, putting the Sticks up 1-0. Ron settled down, however, retiring Dinger and Joey, only giving up a single run in the bottom of the first.
Dinger maintained his groove in the bottom of the second, getting both Ron and Chris to fly out to right field consecutively.
Vassallo grounded out for the first out of the bottom of the second, but the Fish Sticks added to their lead with a one out rally. Blose homered for the second time in as many at-bats, to put the Sticks up 2-0. Dinger followed with a one-out single, and Joey drove him in with a two-run homer, moving the Fish Sticks lead to 4-0. Vassallo singled for the fourth consecutive Fish Sticks hit, but Blose couldn’t advance the runner, grounding out to end the inning.
The Dentists couldn’t cut into the Sticks lead in the top of the third, as Dinger got Braydn and Marr to groundout in order.
Ron held the deficit at four runs in the bottom of the third, retiring Dinger and Joey by groundout.
Dinger gave up his first hit of the contest in the top of the fourth, when Ron led off with a single. He moved to second on a Chris groundout, and with one out, Braydn hit a two-run home run to right field, cutting the Dentists deficit in half. Dinger ended the rally there though, retiring Marr for the second out of the inning, keeping the score 4-2.
Vassallo led off the bottom of the fourth by flying out to the pitcher’s mound. Blose hit a one-out single, but the Sticks couldn’t add a run, as Dinger grounded out to end the fourth.
Dinger returned to form in the top of the fifth, retiring the side in order by getting Ron to fly out to the mound and Chris to fly out to left.
Up two runs, Joey singled to lead off the bottom of the fifth. He tagged up and took second base when Vassallo flew out in foul territory. Blose couldn’t plate the runner in scoring position though, as he flew out to the mound for the second out of the inning.
Heading into the top of sixth up 4-2, the Sticks didn’t make the typical call to the bullpen to bring in their closer Blose. Dinger remained on the mound to close it out, and it turned out to be a good decision. He retired Braydn and Marr in order to end the game, giving the Fish Sticks a 4-2 win and a one game lead in the best-of-five first round series.
Game Notes:
– This was the first playoff game in EWL history
– Dinger threw the first pitch, Bradyn was the first batter and made the first out, Blose had the first hit
– Dinger gave up only 2 runs on 2 hits, both coming in the top of the fourth inning
– Ron gave up 4 runs on 7 hits and took the loss for the Dentists
– Blose led the Sticks, going 3 for 5 with 2 HR, a single, 2 runs scored, and 2 RBI
– Braydn had the only extra-base hit for the Dentists, and led them offensively going 1 for 4 with a HR and 2 RBI
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