Steve, in what may be the best debut in the history of the EWL, hit for the cycle and led Eastbound & Dahn to a tight 9-8 win over the Ham Slams
In the most exciting game of the young 2014 season, Eastbound & Dahn went ahead early, lost their lead, went back on top, and barely held on to beat the Ham Slams 9-8.
The Ham Slams returned veterans Steve and Anthony to the lineup for their first action in 2014, and they also brought Nate and Chris along for help in what may be the most potent Ham Slams lineup to date. They sent their ace, Charlie, to the mound, and he would face off against Christian in a shootout.
Charlie got off to a strong start, escaping the first inning without damage. Christian didn’t fare as well, as the Ham Slams got out their bats early. Steve singled in his first at-bat of 2014, and moved to second when Chris followed with a single. Anthony would then double, scoring both runners to put the Ham Slams ahead 2-0, but would be put out trying to extend the double into a triple. Nate followed with a one-out double, but Christian stranded him at second, ending the inning.
Down two runs, Eastbound got to work in the top of the second. Ivan led off the inning with a solo homer, cutting the score to 2-1. Christian followed with a single and moved to second when Steve, in his first career EWL game, singled to put runners on first and second. Ivan emptied the bases, blasting a three-run bomb to right, his second homer of the inning, putting Eastbound ahead 4-2. Christian followed with another single, and Steve continued the Eastbound rally, hitting a two-run shot to deep left-center, making the score 6-2. Charlie would retire the next two batters, but the Slams trailed by four.
Charlie was hit hard for the second consecutive outing, and took the loss for the Ham Slams
The Ham Slams cut into the deficit in the top of the third, starting when Steve led off the inning with a solo homer, making the score 6-3. With one out, Anthony hit his first homer of the year, and the Ham Slams trailed 6-4. Christian retired Nate to end the inning, but the Slams had cut the deficit in half.
Steve singled to lead off the top of the third, but Charlie stranded him, retiring the next two batters to end the inning.
With the score 6-4, the Ham Slams would continue the comeback in the bottom of the third. Steve and Chris each singled with one out, and Anthony drove in a run with another single, making the score 6-5. With runners on first and third, Nate would hit a fourth consecutive single for the Slams, scoring two runs and putting the Ham Slams ahead 7-6. Christian then retired Charlie to end the Ham Slams rally.
Ivan had two homers in the top of the second and multiple impressive catches in the field
Steve led off the top of the fourth with a single and moved to second on an Ivan groundout. With one out and a runner in scoring position, Christian singled, scoring Steve to tie the game at 7-7. Charlie retired the next batter to end the inning.
With the game tied, Christian pitched a perfect frame in the bottom of the fourth, retiring the side in order.
Ivan led off the top of the fifth with a double off the right field wall, and scored from second when Christian grounded out for the first out of the inning. Eastbound had regained the lead, 8-7, and added another run when Steve followed with a solo shot. Charlie retired Ivan for the second out of the inning, but Eastbound had pulled ahead 9-7.
Anthony started the bottom of the fifth with a triple, and the next batter, Nate, singled him in, cutting the score to 9-8. Christian retired Charlie for the first out of the inning, and after Steve singled with one out, he was caught off base rounding first, and Eastbound had collected the second out of the inning.
Steve, in his first action of 2014, rounds the bases after one of his 4 hits
Christian led off the top of the sixth with a single, but when the next batter, Steve, reached base, Christian was caught in between bases for the first out of the inning. Charlie retired Ivan for the second out, and the Ham Slams would head into their final at-bat down a run.
Chris singled to start the bottom of the sixth, putting the tying run on base and the winning run at the plate. Christian buckled down, however, retiring Anthony and Nate in order, stranding the runner and ending the game.
The win moved Eastbound & Dahn to 2-1 on the year, while the Ham Slams remained winless at 0-3.
W: Christian (2-0)
L: Charlie (0-2)
Game Notes:
– Christian pitched the complete game win for Eastbound & Dahn, 8 earned runs on 14 hits.
– Charlie took the loss for the Ham Slams, giving up 9 earned runs on 14 hits.
– In his first ever EWL game, Steve led Eastbound & Dahn, going 6-for-8 with 2 singles, a double, a triple, 2 home runs, 4 runs scored, and 3 RBI. In hitting for the cycle, Steve had one of the most impressive debuts in EWL history.
– Anthony led the Ham Slams in his first action in 2014, going 4-for-5, also hitting for the cycle, with a single, a double, a triple, a homer, 3 runs scored, and 4 RBI.
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