Tim went 5-for-5 and hit for the cycle to lead the Ham Slams to a 7-5 win
In a back-and-forth game, Tim went a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate and hit for the cycle as the Ham Slams took the lead for the first time in the bottom of the fifth and held on to beat Eastbound & Dahn 7-5.
Josh started for the Ham Slams, and Eastbound & Dahn hit him hard in the top of the first. He struck out the first batter he faced, Nate, but the next four batters would each score runs. Christian doubled and moved to third on a Dustin single, putting runners on the corners. Darren Daulton then singled, scoring Christian to put Eastbound ahead 1-0. After fanning in his first at-bat, Nate redeemed himself, hitting a towering three-run homer to left, and Eastbound led 4-0. Josh then retired Christian to end the inning, but Eastbound had pulled ahead by four runs early.
Nate took the mound for Eastbound, and Josh led off the game with a triple for the Ham Slams. Tim then doubled, scoring Josh to cut the score to 4-1. The Slams had a runner on second with no outs, but Nate buckled down, retiring Dan and Dave to end the inning and strand the runner.
Dustin makes a running catch in centerfield for Eastbound & Dahn
Josh cruised through the top of the second, retiring the side in order. The Slams would cut further into the Eastbound lead in the bottom of the second. Tim tripled with one out, and Dan followed with a two-run blast, which cut the score to 4-3. Nate then retired Dave to end the inning, and the Eastbound lead had been trimmed to a run.
Nate and Christian each singled to start the top of the third, and Eastbound had two on and no outs. But Josh avoided damage, retiring Dustin and Darren Daulton to strand both runners and end the inning.
The Slams would tie the game in the bottom of the third when Tim led off the inning with a solo homer, which made the score 4-4. Nate retired Dan to end the inning, and the game was tied at the midway point.
Josh rolled through the top of the fourth, sending Nate and Christian down consecutively. Dave doubled to lead off the bottom half of the inning, but he was caught out by Christian when he tried to extend the double to a triple. Nate then retired Josh for the second out, and the game remained tied.
Eastbound would pull back ahead in the top of the fifth. Dustin doubled, and two batters later, Nate hit a one-out double into the tree, scoring Dustin and putting Eastbound on top 5-4. Eastbound couldn’t plate any additional runs, as Josh retired Christian to strand the runner at second.
Down 5-4, the Ham Slams would take their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth. Tim singled, completing the cycle in his first four at-bats. Two batters later, Dave hit a one-out triple to score Tim, tying the game at 5-5. With the go-ahead runner on third, Josh took care of business and provided his own run support, hitting a two-run shot to right, which put the Ham Slams ahead 7-5. Tim then doubled, but Nate avoided further trouble, as Dustin made an outfield assist, catching Tim between second and third trying to extend the double into a triple.
Josh’s two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth put the Ham Slams ahead for good
Down 7-5, Eastbound tried to rally in the top of the sixth. Darren Daulton singled with one out, but Josh stranded the runner, retiring Nate to end the game, giving the Ham Slams a 7-5 win.
The win moved the Slams to 8-10 on the season, and the loss dropped Eastbound & Dahn to 1-17.
W: Josh (5-2)
L: Nate (0-1)
Game Notes:
– Josh pitched the complete game win for the Ham Slams, allowing 5 runs on 9 hits in 6 innings, striking out one.
– Nate took the loss for Eastbound, giving up 7 runs on 10 hits in 5 innings.
– Tim led the Ham Slams at the plate, going a perfect 5-for-5 with a single, 2 doubles, a triple, a homer, 3 runs scored, 2 RBI, and hit for the cycle for second time this year and the fourth time in his career.
– Nate led Eastbound & Dahn on offense, going 3-for-6 with a single, a double, a home run, a run scored, and 4 RBI.
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