Adam went 3-for-4 with 3 home runs to help spark the Ham Slams to their first win of the season
The Ham Slams were on their way to another frustrating loss when they reeled off a 5-run top of the sixth and held on to beat first place Eastbound & Dahn 7-4 for their first win of the 2015 season.
Christian started for Eastbound & Dahn, and after allowing a leadoff double to Tim, he retired the next two batters to strand the runner for a scoreless inning. Tim took the mound for the Ham Slams, and similarly, after allowing a one-out triple to Morrison, he stranded the runner, and the game was scoreless through an inning.
The Ham Slams got on the board in the top of the second when Adam hit a one out solo homer to deep left-center. Christian avoided further trouble, and Eastbound trailed 1-0. Tim cruised through the bottom of the second to maintain the one-run lead.
Christian pitched his first perfect frame in the top of the third, and he provided his own offense in the bottom half of the inning. After retiring Morrison to start the inning, Tim allowed a one-out single to Helal. Christian followed with a high, looping fly ball that just cleared the right field fence, and the two-run homer put Eastbound ahead 2-1.
Dan led off the top of the fourth with a double, but the Slams couldn’t capitalize, as Christian stranded him to maintain the lead. Morrison led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo homer, and Eastbound led 3-1 after four.
The Slams continued to struggle at the plate in the top of the fifth, as Christian retired the side in order. Tim matched him in the bottom of the fifth, and the Ham Slams went into their final at-bat down 3-1.
The tides turned in the top of the sixth, and the Slams went on a run that would lead them to their first taste of victory this season. Dan led off with a solo homer, cutting the deficit to 3-2, and Adam followed with another solo shot, tying the game at 3-3. Tim came to the plate and crushed a homer to deep right field, and in three at-bats, the Ham Slams had strung together back-to-back-to-back home runs to take a 4-3 lead. Steve followed with a single and moved to second on a Josh ground out to left. Dan then doubled, scoring Steve to bump the Ham Slams lead to 5-3. The next batter, Adam, blasted his second homer of the inning, and the two-run shot put the Ham Slams ahead 7-3. Eastbound had seen enough from Christian and turned to their bullpen, bringing their ace Helal to the mound. He retired the only batter he faced to end the inning, and Eastbound trailed by four runs.
Christian turns to watch as Tim’s homer gives the Ham Slams the lead
Tim retired Helal to start the inning, but Christian followed with his second homer of the game, a solo blast that made the score 7-4. Tim avoided a collapse, however, retiring the next batter, Nate, to end the game.
The win moved the Ham Slams to 1-6 on the year, while the loss dropped Eastbound & Dahn to 5-2.
W: Tim (1-1)
L: Christian (1-2)
Game Notes:
– Tim pitched the complete game win for the Ham Slams, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits while striking out one.
– Christian took the loss for Eastbound & Dahn, giving up 7 runs on 9 hits in 5.5 innings. Helal faced one batter in 0.5 innings, and retired the batter.
– Adam led the way on offense for the Ham Slams, going 3-for-4 with 3 homers, 3 runs scored, and 4 RBI.
– Dan also went 3-for-4 for the Slams, with 2 doubles, a home run, 2 runs scored, and 2 RBI.
– Christian led Eastbound & Dahn at the plate, going 2-for-4 with 2 home runs, 2 runs scored, and 3 RBI.
Leave a Reply