Evan helped power the Ham Slams as they stormed back to top Bobby Brown in extras
Down 8-3 coming into their final at-bat, the Ham Slams scored 5 runs with no outs in the top of the sixth, then pulled ahead and beat Bobby Brown 9-8 in the seventh inning.
In the second game of their week 7 double-header, Bobby Brown returned to Gaurav, who pitched a gem but took a loss in their previous game. He started well, as Anthony and Evan were sent down in order in the top of the first.
Steve, who was dominant in the Slams previous win over Bobby Brown, was the starting pitcher and was hit hard early. Bobby Brown came out of the gates firing, starting with Mark, who led off the game with a solo homer. Brad followed with a double, and moved to third when Gaurav singled. Gaurav was caught making a base running error, however, and was retired for the first out of the inning. Bobby Brown wasn’t shaken, as Holly singled, driving in Brad and making the score 2-0 early. With a runner on first and one out, Mark crushed a two-run bomb to the opposite field, his second homer of the first inning. Brad made Lentz-back-to-back homers, as he hit a solo shot, putting Bobby Brown up five runs. Gaurav was unable to keep the inning going, as he flew out to center for the second out.
The Lentz Bros. combined for 3 homers in the top of the first as Bobby Brown jumped out to a big lead
With some run support, Gaurav held the lead in the top of the second. Steve led off the inning with a triple, but Gaurav struck out TJ for the first out of the inning before Alec grounded out to left, stranding the runner on third and ending the inning.
The Slams and Steve pulled things together in the bottom of the second, as he retired Holly and Mark in order for a scoreless inning.
The Slams cut into the 5-run deficit in the top of the third, starting when Anthony led off the inning with an inside-the-park homer, putting the Ham Slams on the board. Evan followed with a single, and moved to second when Steve singled. TJ then grounded out to left for the first out of the inning, but with runners on first and second and one out, Alec singled, scoring Evan. Gaurav ended the rally there, as Anthony grounded out to left for the second out of the inning.
With the score 5-2, Steve continued to gain momentum in the bottom of the third. Brad singled to start the inning, but he was stranded there, as Gaurav flew out to the mound and Holly grounded out to left to end the inning.
The Slams chipped further into the deficit in the top of the fourth when Evan led off the inning with a solo homer, making the score 5-3. After Steve flew out to the mound for the first out of the inning, TJ hit a one-out triple, but Gaurav held him there, as he fanned Alec to end the inning.
Steve pitched a perfect bottom of the fourth, retiring Mark and Brad in order to hold the Bobby Brown lead at 2 runs.
The Slams couldn’t capitalize with the top of their order up in the top of the fifth, as Anthony and Evan were sent down in order.
Bobby Brown opened up a bigger lead in the bottom of the fifth, starting when Gaurav singled to lead off the inning. He moved to third when Holly doubled, putting runners on second and third with no outs. Mark grounded out to the mound, but Gaurav raced home on the play, putting Bobby Brown up 6-3. With Holly on third and one out, Brad hit a towering bomb to left field, his second of the game, and Bobby Brown was back on top by 5 runs with the score at 8-3. Steve ended the inning by getting Gaurav to ground out to left, but it looked as if Bobby Brown had put the game away in the bottom of the fifth.
Holly doubled and scored in the bottom of the fifth, extending the Bobby Brown lead
Two outs away from slipping the double-header, things turned on Gaurav quickly in the top of the sixth. Despite giving up only 2 runs on 7 hits through the first five innings, the Slams would hit him hard in the sixth. Steve started with a single, and moved to second when TJ singled. Alec hit yet another single, scoring Steve from second and putting runners on the corners with no outs. With the score 8-4, Anthony doubled, scoring the runner from third, and cutting the deficit to three runs. With no outs, runners on second and third, and the tying run at the plate, Evan delivered in the clutch, smashing a 3-run blast to right-center field, tying the game at 8-8. The Slams had come from five runs down to tie the game before recording a single out in the top of the sixth. A run away from taking the lead, the Slams fizzled. Steve struck out for the first out of the inning, followed by TJ grounding out to right to end the inning.
Despite blowing their big lead and the win, Bobby Brown still had a chance to score in the bottom of the sixth. The Ham Slams pulled Steve from the mound and switched to Alec. The move worked, as Holly and Mark were retired in order, sending the game to extra innings.
Gaurav remained in the game for Bobby Brown, and he retired Alec for the first out in the top of the seventh. But the next batter, Anthony, crushed the first pitch to deep left field, and the line drive homer put the Ham Slams ahead 9-8, their first lead of the game. Gaurav got Evan to fly out to left to end the seventh, but Bobby Brown would need a run to extend the game.
Anthony bombed a solo shot in the top of the seventh, putting the Slams ahead for good
Alec shut the door fast and hard on Bobby Brown in the bottom of the seventh, as Brad and Gaurav were each retired by Anthony, ending the game and giving the Ham Slams the improbable come-from-behind win.
Alec closed the door on Bobby Brown, retiring 4 straight batters and picking up the win for the Ham Slams
The victory moved the Slams to .500 at 7-7 on the season, while the heartbreaking loss put Bobby Brown at a record of 4-10.
W: Alec (3-2)
L: Gaurav (3-5)
Game Notes:
– Anthony and Evan led the Ham Slams on offense. Anthony went 3 for 6 with a double, 2 home runs, 3 RBI and 3 runs scored. Evan went 3 for 6 with a single, 2 homers, 4 RBI, and 3 runs scored.
– Brad led Bobby Brown at the plate in the loss, going 4 for 6 with a single, a double, 2 home runs, 3 RBI, and 3 runs scored. Mark also hit two homers in the contest.
– Alec entered the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, and retired 4 consecutive batters in 2 scoreless innings to get the win.
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