Tim avoided allowing big innings against Cookies & Cream, pitching well enough to earn his first win of the season in a 6-5 win
The Ham Slams pulled closer to Cookies & Cream in the standings, riding the momentum of a five-run fourth inning and staving off a late Cookies & Cream rally to win 6-5.
Dinger started on the mound for Cookies & Cream, and he retired Josh and Tim in order in the top of the first.
The Ham Slams sent Tim to the mound, and he fell behind early. Guthrie singled to start the game, and he raced from first to home on a Blose RBI single, putting Cookies & Cream ahead 1-0. Tim then retired Joey and Dinger to end the inning after allowing only one run.
Dinger continued to roll in the top of the second, sending Dan and Kessler down consecutively.
Cookies would add to their lead in the bottom of the second. Guthrie hit a one-out triple, and Blose followed with a two-run home run to right-center, giving Cookies & Cream a 3-0 lead. Tim then retired Joey to end the inning with the Slams trailing by three.
The Slams couldn’t get their bats going in the top of the third, as Dinger retired the side, and he had not allowed a hit through three innings.
Jordan hit a one-out double in the bottom of the third, but Tim did not allow Cookies to extend their lead, as he retired Guthrie to strand the runner and end the inning.
Down 3-0, the Ham Slams got out their bats in the top of the fourth. Dan doubled for the first Ham Slams hit of the game, and Kessler followed with an RBI double, cutting the deficit to 3-1. Josh then singled, scoring Kessler to make the score 3-2. Tim followed with a double to put runners on second and third, and Dan’s RBI double scored Josh, tying the game at 3-3. With runners on second and third, Kessler singled to load the bases. Josh had an opportunity at a grand slam, but he grounded out to right for the first out of the inning. A run scored on the play, however, and the Slams took a 4-3 lead. Tim then singled, scoring Dan, and the Slams led 5-3. Dinger finally escaped the inning, retiring Dan for the second out, and the five-run inning put the Slams ahead by two runs.
Joey hit a one-out double in the bottom of the fourth, but Cookies couldn’t plate the run, as Tim retired Dinger to strand the runner and end the inning.
The Slams would add one more run of support in the top of the fifth when Josh hit a one-out solo homer to right, making the score 6-3.
Josh’s solo homer in the top of the fifth proved to be the winning run as the Ham Slams held on to win
Jordan led off the bottom of the fifth with a single, and the next batter, Guthrie, hit a two-run shot to left, cutting the Ham Slams lead to 6-5. Blose followed with a single, and it looked as if Tim was in trouble. Joey then doubled, but as Blose was trying to score from first, he was caught in between third and home for the first out of the inning. The tying run was on second, but Tim buckled down, retiring Dinger to end the inning, maintaining a one-run lead.
Dinger remained in the game in the top of the sixth, and he sent Dan and Kessler down in order.
Down a run, Cookies would need to rally in the bottom of the sixth. Tim retired Jordan for the first out of the inning, but the next batter, Guthrie, doubled. The double gave Guthrie the cycle, after he singled, tripled, and homered earlier in the game. With the tying run on second and the go-ahead run at the plate, Blose came to bat. He hit a towering fly ball to right, and Kessler settled under it, catching it for the second out of the inning and ending the game.
The Ham Slams moved to .500 at 4-4 on the season, and Cookies & Cream’s third consecutive loss dropped them to 5-3.
W: Tim (1-2)
L: Dinger (1-2)
Game Notes:
– Tim pitched the complete game win for the Ham Slams, allowing 5 runs on 11 hits in 6 innings pitched.
– Dinger took the loss for Cookies & Cream, giving up 6 runs on 8 hits in 6 innings.
– Each of the Ham Slams went 2-for-5 in the game, and Dan was the only Slam to have two extra-base hits. He went 2-for-5 with 2 doubles, 2 runs scored, and an RBI.
– Guthrie led Cookies & Cream on offense, going 4-for-5 and hitting for the cycle in the losing effort. He had a single, a double, a triple, a home run, 3 runs scored, and 2 RBI.
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