Alec had the best pitching performance of the week, giving up only 2 runs on 6 hits in a complete game win
Despite trailing for the majority of the game, the Ham Slams responded in the final two innings and rode Alec’s strong pitching performance to a 5-2 win over the Fish Sticks.
The last these teams met, the Sticks blew a late lead to the Ham Slams in a disappointing loss. Joey would face the Slams for the Sticks for the second consecutive game, and he looked sharp early. Anthony singled to lead off the game, but when TJ grounded out to Vassallo in left, Vassallo caught Anthony trying to advance from first to third. The double play ended the inning.
The Ham Slams started Alec on the mound for the second time in his career. Blose led off by doubling off the wall, and moved to third when Joey followed with a single. With runners on the corners and no outs, Vassallo singled, driving in Blose and moving Joey to second. The Sticks were up 1-0 with runners on first and second. It looked as if the Sticks would open up a big lead early for the second consecutive game, but Alec settled down and managed through the jam. He got Ivan to fly out to Evan in left for the first out of the inning, and stranded both runners when inger grounded out to left to end the inning.
Down one, the Slams went quickly in the top of the second. Evan and Alec were both retired by Vassallo, by fly out and ground out, respectively.
Alec retired Blose and Joey in the bottom of the second, and had retired four straight batters.
Joey continued to roll in the top of the third. He retired Steve and Anthony in order, and the score remained 1-0.
Joey was dominant early, but struggled late for the third consecutive start
The Sticks added a run in the bottom of the third, starting when Vassallo tripled to lead off the inning. Ivan flew out to deep left, but Vassallo tagged from third and scored, and the Sticks lead was 2-0. With one out and nobody on base, Dinger grounded out to left for the second out of the inning.
TJ and Evan went down in order in the top of the fourth, and Joey had retired 7 consecutive batters without a base runner.
Alec got back into the groove in the bottom of the fourth inning, as he retired Blose and Joey in order for a scoreless frame.
After a terrible defensive game against the Caucasians, the Ham Slams tightened up in the field against the Sticks
Down two runs and having not reached base since the opening batter, the Ham Slams finally cracked Joey in the top of the fifth. Alec flew out to Blose in center for the first out of the inning, but the Slams rallied. Steve singled to lead off the inning, and when the next batter, Anthony, crushed a two-run blast to left field, the game was tied at 2-2. TJ hit a one-out single, and Evan put the Ham Slams in front for the first time in the game when he hit a 2-run shot, pushing the score to 4-2. Joey fanned Alec for the second out of the inning, but after cruising through four innings, Joey had relinquished the lead in the fifth.
Evan’s two-run blast capped a 4-run fifth inning for the Slams and put them ahead 4-2
It looked like the Sticks would rally in the bottom of the fifth. Vassallo led off the inning with a single, and after Ivan flew out for the first out of the inning, Dinger singled, pushing Vassallo to third and putting runners on the corners with one out. Blose came to the plate as the lead run, but couldn’t cut into the Slams lead, as Alec got him to fly out to right field to end the inning, stranding two runners on base.
Joey continued to struggle in late-inning work in the top of the sixth. Steve led off the inning by taking Joey deep, pushing the Ham Slams lead to 5-2. Joey pulled himself from the game, bringing in Blose for relief. He retired Anthony and TJ in order to end the inning, but the Sticks trailed by 3 runs heading into their final at-bat.
Alec stayed in the game despite a save opportunity being present for the Slams. He got Joey to ground out to left for the first out of the inning, then struck out Vassallo to end the game, earning the complete game win.
The win moved the Ham Slams to 2-0 against the Fish Sticks and 3-3 on the season. The loss dropped the Sticks to 3-3 on the year.
W: Alec (1-1)
L: Joey (1-2)
Game Notes:
– Anthony, Evan, and Steve homered for the Ham Slams
– Vassallo led the Fish Sticks offensively, going 3 for 4 with 2 singles, a triple, a run scored, and an RBI
– Alec pitched the complete game win, yielding only 2 runs on 6 hits with a strikeout
– Joey earned the loss, pitching 5 innings while giving up 5 runs on 6 hits
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