Quinn held the Caucasians to only 1 run on 8 hits in a complete game win
For the second consecutive game the Ham Slams managed to score only 2 runs, but the two were enough as Quinn held the Caucasian offense to only 1 run in a 2-1 victory. After scoring 9 runs, 7 unanswered, against the Fish Sticks in their first game, the Caucasians struggled on offense with only 3 base runners advancing beyond first base. The Ham Slams weren’t much better offensively, but a late rally put them ahead for the win.
The Slams started Quinn on the mound in his first EWL pitching appearance. He looked comfortable, retiring Guthrie and Morrison in the top of the first without allowing a hit.
The Caucasians started new acquisition Ron, who went 4-7 in 2011 but had one of the league’s lowest ERAs (3.20) and WHIPs (1.38) and plenty of experience on the hill. He rolled through the first, as TJ and Quinn each grounded out.
Quinn got himself in a jam in the top of the second when he gave up a leadoff single to Pat, followed by another single by Les to put runners on first and second with no outs. But he escaped unscathed when Ron flew out to the mound and Quinn doubled up Pat to end the inning.
It looked as if Ron was about to have some trouble in the bottom of the second when he gave up a leadoff double to Anthony, and Evan followed with a single. Anthony couldn’t advance beyond second on the play but there were runners on first and second with no outs. But like Quinn in the top half of the inning, Ron got out of the inning unblemished when Charlie grounded out to Pat in right who doubled-off Anthony trying to advance to third, ending the inning.
The Ham Slams were solid in the field, led by Anthony in center who had 8 putouts in week 1
Scoreless through two innings, the Caucasians looked to break the tie in the top of the third. Quinn retired Guthrie to start the inning, but Morrison and Pat each hit singles with one out putting runners on the corners for Les. But Quinn buckled down and fanned Les to end the inning, stranding two more Caucasians.
TJ flew out to the mound to begin the bottom of the third, and Quinn looked to help himself out with a one-out double. But Ron held the runner at second, getting Anthony to fly out to Morrison in deep left field for the second out of the inning.
Ron couldn’t help his own cause in the top of the fourth, as he led off by flying out to Anthony in center. Guthrie followed with his first hit of the game, a double, putting the lead run in scoring position. But Quinn stranded yet another Caucasian, getting Morrison to fly out to the mound, ending the inning.
Ron made quick work of the Slams in the bottom of the fourth, retiring Evan and Charlie in order.
Still scoreless, Pat flew out to center for the first out of the top of the fifth. With one down, Les blasted a shot into the tree, and raced into third with a triple. The Caucasians finally broke through, as Ron singled, driving in Les for the first run of the game, making the score 1-0. Guthrie followed with a single, pushing Ron to third, and it looked as if the Caucasians would rally with one out. But Quinn got Morrison to groundout to left, ending the inning and leaving two more Caucasians on base.
In the top of the fifth, Les tripled and scored on a Ron single to put the Caucasians up 1-0
Down 1-0, the Ham Slams responded in the bottom of the fifth, starting with TJ who led off the inning with a single. Quinn flew out to center for the first out of the inning, and TJ couldn’t advance past first. Anthony followed with a one-out double, putting the tying and go-ahead run in scoring position with one out. The next batter, Evan, delivered a one-out single as TJ and Anthony raced around to score, and the Ham Slams had their first lead as a team in the EWL. Ron retired the next batter, Charlie, to end the inning, but the Caucasians would head into the final frame down a run to the upstart Ham Slams.
Evan’s two-run single in the bottom of the fifth gave the Ham Slams a 2-1 lead
Quinn stayed in the game to close the deal, and started the top of the sixth by getting Pat to ground out to left field. Down to their final out, Les, who scored the Caucasians only run in the game, went down swinging for the second time in the game. Quinn closed the door on the Ham Slams first franchise win, a 2-1 victory of the Caucasians.
W: Quinn (1-0)
L: Ron (0-1)
Game Notes:
– Quinn pitched the complete game for the victory, scattering 7 hits in 6 innings with 2 strikeouts.
– Ron pitched well for the Caucasians, allowing only six hits in five innings in a complete game loss.
– This game featured two double plays which occurred in consecutive innings.
– Les tied a single-game record for strikeouts with 2.
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