Nate connects on a double during Eastbound & Dahn’s come-from-behind victory over Cookies & Cream
Eastbound & Dahn came back from an early deficit and warded off a late Cookies & Cream comeback attempt for a 10-8 win, securing their hold of first place for the second consecutive week.
Eastbound sent their ace, Helal, to the mound to start against Cookies after he had beat them twice earlier in the season with both starts ending as three-hitters. He was hit considerably harder in week 4, but Eastbound would provide the run support he needed.
Blose led off the game with a solo homer, his second leadoff homer of week 4, and Cookies were ahead 1-0 early. Joey followed with a double, and two batters later, Dinger hit his fourth two-run homer of the week, making the score 3-0. Blose then followed with a single, and he scored from first on a Joey single. Helal stranded Joey at first to end the inning, but after allowing 3 runs in his first two starts against Cookies combined, he had allowed 4 runs in the top of the first.
Eastbound chipped away at the deficit immediately, scoring a few runs in the bottom of the first off Dinger, Cookies starter. Morrison hit a one-out triple, and Helal followed with a sharply hit ball off the wall. A throwing error led to an inside-the-park homer, and Eastbound had cut the Cookies lead to 4-2 after an inning.
Helal retired the side in order in the top of the second, and Eastbound pulled ahead in the bottom of the second. Nate led off the inning with a single, and Morrison followed with a two-run bomb, tying the game at 4-4. Two batters later Christian hit a one-out single, and Nate drove him in with a two-run homer, putting Eastbound ahead 6-4.
Dinger delivers a pitch to Nate, who went 3-for-6 in the game
Cookies would draw even in the top of the third. Joey led off the inning with a triple, and the next batter, Vassallo, hit a two-run blast to tie the game at 6-6.
Joey went 5-for-6 in a losing effort for Cookies & Cream
The lead wouldn’t last long, as Eastbound continued to hit Dinger hard in the bottom of the third. Helal led off the inning with a double, and Christian hit a two-run homer to right, giving Eastbound an 8-6 lead. Cookies turned to their bullpen, removing Dinger and replacing him with Vassallo, who didn’t fare much better. Nate followed with a double, and Morrison blasted his second two-run homer of the game, putting Eastbound ahead 10-6.
Helal pitched a perfect frame in the top of the fourth to maintain the lead. Cookies turned to Joey, who came in to pitch from the bull pen. He allowed a one-out single to Morrison in the bottom half of the inning, but retired the next batter to strand the runner.
Morrison settles under a high fly ball
Down four runs, Cookies inched closer in the top of the fifth. Blose hit a one-out solo homer to deep center, and the score was 10-7. Joey followed with a triple, but Cookies couldn’t take advantage of the runner in scoring position, as Helal avoided further damage.
Joey retired the side in order in the bottom of the fifth, and Cookies trailed by three going into their last at-bat.
Helal retired the first batter in the top of the sixth, but the next hitter, Blose, crushed his third homer of the game, a solo shot, that made the score 10-8. Joey followed with a one-out double, and the tying run was at the plate. But Helal cracked down, retiring Vassallo to strand the runner and end the inning, giving Eastbound & Dahn the win.
Eastbound moved to 6-2 on the year and maintained sole possession of first place in the standings. The loss dropped Cookies & Cream to .500 at 4-4.
W: Helal (4-0)
L: Dinger (1-2)
Game Notes:
– Helal pitched the complete game victory for Eastbound & Dahn. He allowed 8 runs on 11 hits in 6 innings.
– Dinger took the loss for Cookies, giving up 8 runs on 8 hits in 2 innings. Vassallo pitched 1 inning of relief, giving up 2 runs on 2 hits. Joey also pitched 2 innings of relief, giving up 1 hit and no earned runs.
– Morrison led Eastbound at the plate, going 4-for-5 with a single, a triple, 2 homers, 3 runs scored, and 4 RBI.
– Nate, Helal, and Christian also homered for Eastbound.
– Blose led Cookies & Cream, going 4-for-6 with a single, 3 home runs, 4 runs scored, and 3 RBI.
– Joey also went 5-for-6 for Cookies with a single, 2 doubles, 2 triples, 3 runs scored, and an RBI.
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