The Ham Slams unleashed a dominant offensive performance against Eastbound, breaking multiple single-game records
The Ham Slams erupted for 12 runs in the first inning and set the team single-game record for doubles as Charlie quieted the Eastbound bats in a 15-2 victory. The win gave the Ham Slams a chance to catch Cookies & Cream in the standings and, if they got some help from the rest of the EWL, take control of the #3 seed heading into the playoffs. Alan tied the single-game record for doubles, Tim went an incredible 8-for-8, and Steve hit for the cycle in what may have been the greatest game in Ham Slams history.
Charlie started for the Slams, and he kept the Morrison-less Eastbound bats in check throughout the game. He retired Hartley to start the top of the first, and Nate was called out for the second out of the inning trying to extend a double into a triple. He would get all of the run support he would need in the bottom of the first.
Charlie catches the ball on the mound to record an out as Nate unsuccessfully attempts to scamper a double into a triple
Tim led off the inning with a single, and he scored when Dan followed with an RBI double to make the score 1-0. Alan followed with an RBI double to make the score 2-0, and Steve also doubled to make the score 3-0. Tim then hit an RBI double to extend the Slams lead to 4-0. Dan followed with a line drive off the fence, but he was caught in between second and third trying to secure a triple, making another RBI double for the Slams. Alan then doubled, and the Ham Slams had hit seven consecutive doubles off Eastbound & Dahn’s starter, Christian. Steve broke the doubles streak, but his RBI single scored Alan to make the score 7-0. Tim then hit yet another double, scoring Alan to push the score to 8-0. Dan followed with an RBI triple, and he scored when Alan hit his third double of the inning. Steve then cleared the bases with a two-run homer, the Slams first homer of the game, and they led 11-0. Tim followed with a solo homer, his fourth hit of the inning, and the back-to-back homers made the score 12-0. The historic inning finally came to a conclusion when Christian got Dan to fly out to right for the second out of the inning. The Slams had recorded 12 runs on 13 hits in the bottom of the first, and Tim, Alan, and Steve were a combined 10-for-10 in the inning. In a single inning, the Slams hit 8 doubles, one shy of the single-game record, and Alan had 3 of them, also one shy of the single-game record.
Tim went 8-for-8 at the plate to set the pace for the Ham Slams
Down twelve runs, Eastbound would get on the board in the top of the second. Christian led off the inning with a double, and after Charlie struck out Steve, he gave up an RBI double to Hartley, making the score 1-0. Charlie avoided further damage by retiring Nate to end the inning.
Alan led off the bottom of the second with a single, and Steve followed with a double, the Ham Slams ninth in the game. Alan was caught in between second and third on the play for the first out of the inning. Tim followed with an RBI double, scoring Steve and setting a new single-game record with the 10th double. Tim was also caught in between second and third for the second out of the inning, the third time the Slams had been caught in between bases in the game.
Christian did his part to provide his own run support in the top of the third, leading off the inning with a solo homer to make the score 13-2. Charlie retired Steve and Tim to end the inning with an eleven-run lead.
Dan led off the bottom of the third with a single and moved from first to third when Alan followed with a double, his fourth of the game, tying the single-game record. Steve then doubled, clearing the bases and extending the Ham Slams lead to 15-2. Steve was caught trying to extend the double into a triple on the play, the fourth time the Slams were caught in between bases in the game. Tim followed with a single and moved to third when Dan doubled, putting two runners in scoring position for Alan. Christian, however, got Alan to ground out to left for the second out of the inning, stranding both runners.
Nate started the top of the fourth with a double, but Charlie stranded him, retiring the next two batters to maintain the big Ham Slams lead.
Charlie scattered 2 runs on 5 hits to pitch the complete game win for the Slams
Tim singled with one out in the bottom of the fourth and moved to third when Dan singled, but the Slams couldn’t capitalize, as Christian retired Alan to strand two runners for the second consecutive inning.
Charlie retired the side in order in the top of the fifth, and the Slams continued to lead 15-2.
Steve came into the bottom of the fifth a triple shy of the cycle. He hit a liner off the fence and raced around the bases, and it looked like he would have an inside-the-park home run. However, Hartley got the ball to the mound, catching him in between third and home for the first out of the inning. It was the fifth time in the game the Slams were caught in between bases, but Steve had hit for the cycle. Tim then hit a one-out single, making him a perfect 8-for-8 on the day. Dan followed with a single, but Tim was caught in between first and second, a remarkable sixth time Eastbound had recorded an out in the field.
Eastbound went quickly in the top of the sixth, as Charlie retired Christian and Steve consecutively to end the game. Charlie had retired the final six batters he faced and 8 out of the final 9, to give the Ham Slams a 15-2 win.
The win moved the Ham Slams to 7-12 on the year, and the loss dropped Eastbound & Dahn to 10-9. The Ham Slams took the season series with Eastbound 4 games to 3.
W: Charlie (4-7)
L: Christian (2-5)
Game Notes:
– Charlie pitched the complete game win for the Ham Slams, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits and striking out one in 6 innings. Charlie has now won 4 consecutive games after starting 0-7 to move to 4-7 on the year.
– Christian pitched the complete game loss for Eastbound & Dahn, allowing 15 runs on 26 hits in 5 innings. He tied the single-game record for hits allowed with Riley, who allowed 26 hits in a single start for the Ham Slams in 2014.
– The Ham Slams all had remarkable offensive games, and they were led by Tim, who went 8-for-8 with 4 singles, 3 doubles, a home run, 4 runs scored, and 4 RBI.
– Steve hit for the cycle, going 6-for-7 with a single, 3 doubles, a triple, a home run, 4 runs scored, and 5 RBI.
– Alan tied the single-game record for doubles with 4, joining Blose (2012), Hartley (2014), and Joey (2015), who also accomplished the feat. In total, he went 5-for-7 with a single, 4 doubles, 4 runs scored, and 3 RBI.
– Dan went 7-for-8 in the game with 3 singles, 3 doubles, a triple, 3 runs scored, and 3 RBI.
– Christian led Eastbound at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, an RBI, and he scored both Eastbound runs.
Leave a Reply