Joey led the Fish Sticks to a Game 2 win, hitting a late home run and giving up only one run in a complete game victory
Joey’s two-run homer in the top of the sixth inning put the Fish Sticks ahead as they held on to defeat the Caucasians 3-1 and take a commanding 2-0 lead in the 2011 Wiffle Series.
The Caucasians were surprised in Game 1 and looked to even the series in Game 2, sending Les to the mound. Les had pitched well in the final third of the season and won Game 2 of their first round sweep of Pumice! He started in control, retiring Blose, who had led off Game 1 with a home run, for the first out of the inning. Les then retired Dinger for the second out, throwing a scoreless first inning.
Les, who came into the Wiffle Series 1-0 on the mound, started Game 2 for the Caucasians
The Fish Sticks started Joey on the mound, hoping to ride his momentum after he earned the win in their pivotal Game 5 win over the Dentists in round 1. The Caucasians inverted their batting order from Game 1, as Higgins led off the game. He flew out to the pitcher for the first out of the inning, and the next batter, Guthrie, hit a one-out double to put a runner in scoring position. But Les was unable to advance the runner, as he flew out to the pitcher’s mound for the second out of the inning.
Les remained in command in the top of the second, as he retired Joey and Vassallo in order as both flied out.
The Caucasians finally showed signs of life in the bottom of the second. Morrison grounded out to left for the first out of the inning, but the next batter, Higgins, crushed a one-out solo home run to deep center field to give the Caucasians a 1-0 lead. It was their first lead and the first run they had scored in the series. Joey retired Guthrie for the second out of the inning, and the Caucasians led by a run through two innings.
Higgins unloaded a bomb in the bottom of the second to give the Caucasians their first lead of the series
It didn’t take long for the Fish Sticks to even the score. Les retired Blose to lead off the game, but he couldn’t do the same in the top of the third. Blose hit a solo homer to right field to tie the game at 1-1. Dinger followed with a groundout to left for the first out of the inning. The next batter, Joey, hit a towering flyball to deep left field. The ball cleared the fence, but was stuck in the tree, limiting Joey to a ground-ruled double. Vassallo came to the plate with one out, but was unable to drive in a run, as he flew out to the pitcher’s mound and the game remained tied at 1-1.
Joey retired the Caucasians in order in the bottom of the third, as Les flew out to the mound and Morrison grounded out to left field for the second out of the inning.
Les got back on track in the top of the fourth, getting Blose to fly out to the mound and Dinger to fly out to right field. The game was still tied at 1-1 through three and a half innings.
Higgings grounded out to center for the first out in the bottom of the fourth. Guthrie followed with a one-out single, but the next batter, Les, was retired for the second out of the inning, stranding Guthrie at first.
Pitching continued to roll in the top of the fifth, as Les retired Joey and Vassallo in order, each flying out to Morrison in left field.
With the game still tied, Morrison led off the bottom of the fifth with a double, his first hit of the game. The next batter, Higgins, hit a towering fly to deep center field. Blose caught the ball with his back against the fence, and Morrison, one of the faster base runners in the game, attempted to tag up and move to third. The play would have put the go-ahead runner on third base, but Blose gunned the ball to Joey at the mound in time, beating Morrison to the bag, and the Caucasians had been doubled-up for the second out of the inning. The go-ahead runner had been stranded on base.
Joey delivers a pitch with Morrison, who would be retired trying to tag-up, on second
Following his display of defensive prowess, Blose led off the top of the sixth inning with a double, putting the winning run on second base. Dinger followed by flying out to Les at the pitcher’s mound, and Blose was unable to advance. Les was an out away from escaping the inning when Joey came to the plate. He hit a two-run blast to deep left field, driving in Blose from second and giving the Fish Sticks their first lead of the game. Vassallo followed with a one-out single, and it looked as if the Sticks rally would continue with Blose coming to the plate. But Les got Blose to fly out to center field, ending the inning with the score 3-1.
The Caucasians were two outs and two runs away from being behind 2-0 in the Wiffle Series. Unfortunately, they couldn’t find an offensive spark in the bottom of the sixth. Joey retired Guthrie and Les in order, ending the game and giving the Fish Sticks a surprising two game lead in the Wiffle Series.
Game Notes:
– Joey pitched a complete game victory for the Fish Sticks, giving up 1 ER while scattering 4 hits
– Les took the loss for the Caucasians, yielding 3 ER on 5 hits
– Joey led the Sticks offensively, going 2-4 with a 2B, a HR, and 2 RBI.
– Higgins drove in the only Caucasian run with a solo homer. Guthrie went 2-4 with a double and single.
– All four of Joey’s at-bats resulted in the ball going into the left field tree. Two were caught for flyouts, one was a ground-ruled double, and one cleared the tree and the fence for a home run.
Leave a Reply