Evan and Matt led a late Ham Slams rally, scoring 6 runs in the 4th and 5th innings to top the Sticks
Down four runs in the bottom of the fourth, the Ham Slams, led by free agent acquisition Matt, scored 6 runs in the fourth and fifth inning in a comeback win over the Fish Sticks.
This was the first matchup between the Fish Sticks and the Ham Slams, and the last two teams to meet for the first time in the 2012 season. The Ham Slams sent Evan to the bump for his second consecutive start, knowing he had only two innings of eligibility remaining. The sun was setting on the wiffle diamond and darkness would become an issue before the game was finished.
Dinger led off the top of the first for the Fish Sticks with a single, and he moved to second on a Vassallo groundout. With one out, Joey roped a double off the tree, scoring Dinger and putting the Sticks up 1-0 early. The next Batter, Blose, followed with another double, scoring Joey from second and moving the score to 2-0. Evan got Dinger to fly out to the mound for the second out, stranding Blose at second and ending the inning.
Dinger races around third toward home in the top of the first, one of two runs he scored in the game
Joey started for the Fish Sticks and got off to a good start. He retired Adam and Matt in order in the top of the first for a scoreless inning.
Evan settled in on the mound in the top of the second, retiring Vassallo and Joey consecutively to keep the score at 2-0.
Joey continued to roll in the bottom of the second, as Evan and Harrison were retired in order.
Joey was effective on the mound early, but like his previous start, was hit hard late in the game
With Evan’s inning limit reached, the Slams turned to Matt to pitch in the top of the third. Blose led off the inning by grounding out to center. Dinger followed with a one-out single, his second of the game, but was stranded at first when Evan got Vassallo to groundout for the second out of the inning.
Playing in their first career EWL games, Harrison and Matt were effective in the field, even as darkness set in
Down two, the Slams showed life in the bottom of the third. Adam led off the inning with a double, but was caught off the base after he rounded second heading toward third, and was retired for the first out of the inning. It looked as if the Slams would rally with one out, as Matt singled, then moved from first to third when Evan followed with a one-out double. But Joey got out of the jam safely, as he got Harrison to fly out to Dinger in right field for the second out of the inning, stranding two runners in scoring position.
The Sticks got back to work in the top of the fourth. After Joey grounded out to left for the first out of the inning, Blose hit his second double of the game. Dinger followed with another double, driving in Blose and pushing the Sticks lead to 3 runs. The next batter, Vassallo, became the third consecutive batter to double, driving in Dinger from second and moving the score to 4-0. Evan got Joey, the next batter, to groundout for the second time in the inning, ending the rally.
The Slams came close to scoring in the bottom of the third, and finally would crack Joey in the bottom of the fourth. Adam led off the inning with a single, and moved to second when Matt followed with another single. With no outs, Evan hit a double to right-center, scoring Adam and getting the Slams on the board. With runners on second and third, Harrison followed with a single, his first hit of the game, driving in Matt and Evan and cutting the deficit to a single run. Joey finally got Adam to ground out to the mound for the first out of the inning, but there was still a runner in scoring position on second. The next batter, Matt, hit a triple, driving in Harrison and tying the game at 4-4. Joey got Evan to groundout to right field, stranding Matt at third and maintaining the tie, but the damage had been done.
Adam got the Slams scoring started in the fourth with a single, and later scored
The Slams decided to make another pitching change, bringing Harrison into the game to replace Matt. The tie the Slams had fought for didn’t last long, as Blose led off the top of the fifth with a double. The next batter, Dinger, grounded out to left, moving Blose to third. With one out, Vassallo hit a single, driving in Blose and putting the Sticks back on top 5-4. Joey followed with a single, putting runners on first and second with one out. But the Sticks couldn’t add to the lead, as Blose grounded out to left to end the inning.
Trailing again, the Slams came to the plate down one with four outs to go. Harrison quickly lowered that to 3 outs, as he grounded out for the first out of the bottom of the fifth. But then the Ham Slams rallied. Adam singled with one out, and the next batter, Matt, belted a two-run homer to center field, putting the Ham Slams up 6-5. Evan followed the blast with a single, and moved to third when Harrison singled. With runners on the corners and one out, the Slams couldn’t extend their lead, as Adam flew out to Joey on the mound to end the inning.
Matt’s two-run bomb in the bottom of the fifth put the Slams ahead for good at 6-5
Down to their final two outs, the Fish Sticks were facing yet another blown lead. Harrison remained on the mound, and the Sticks couldn’t get their bats going. Dinger flew out to left for the first out of the inning, and the next batter, Vassallo, grounded out to Evan in left for the second out, ending the game. The Slams had scored six runs in their final two at-bats to come from behind and stun the Fish Sticks 6-5.
W: Harrison (1-0)
L: Joey (1-1)
Game Notes:
– After going hitless in his rookie debut, Matt went 4 for 5 with two singles, a triple, a homer, 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. He and Evan, who went 3 for 5 with a single, 2 doubles, a run scored and an RBI, led the Slams on offense.
– Harrison picked up the win in relief in his first EWL pitching appearance
– Blose led the Sticks offensively, going 3 for 5 with 3 doubles, 2 runs scored, and an RBI
– Blose’s 3 doubles set an EWL single-game record, breaking the record of 2 held by many former EWL players
– The Fish Sticks total of 5 doubles in the game broke the single-game team record of 4 previously held by both the Fish Sticks and 4 out of 5 Dentists from 2011
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