Joe scattered only four hits in a complete game win for the Ham Slams, and he provided three runs of run support for himself, going 4-for-5 at the plate
Joe is only three games into his EWL career, but he has already made his presence felt in a big way. After leading his team to a game 2 victory last week, he picked up where he left off, pitching another complete game win in game 3 and putting the Ham Slams ahead for good with a three-run blast in the bottom of the third. The win put the Slams ahead 2-1 in the best-of-five series with Cookies & Cream and one win away from the franchise’s first Wiffle Series berth.
Although Joe kept Cookies & Cream in check throughout the game, he got behind early. After retiring Guthrie to start the game, Blose launched a solo homer to center, and Cookies & Cream led 1-0 quickly. Joe then retired Joey, playing somewhat hobbled one week after sustaining an ankle injury in game 2 against the Slams.
Guthrie took the mound for Cookies & Cream, and he avoided trouble in the bottom of the first. Josh led off with a double and moved to third on a Dan groundout. Joe then singled, putting runners on the corners with one out. Guthrie maintained the one-run lead, however, getting Kessler to fly out to the mound for the second out, stranding both runners.
Joe cruised through the top of the second, retiring the side in order, and his team would pull ahead in the bottom half of the inning.
Josh led off with a solo homer to right-center, tying the game at 1-1. Two batters later, Joe doubled, and Kessler followed with an RBI single that gave the Ham Slams a 2-1 lead. Josh then doubled, and the Ham Slams had two runners in scoring position. Guthrie once again escaped a jam, getting Dan go fly out to right, stranding two more runners and ending the inning.
Joe continued to roll in the top of the third, sending Guthrie and Blose down consecutively.
Dan fires a ball into the pitcher after securing an out in left field
The Slams would open up a big lead in the bottom of the third. Joe led off with a double, and he scored when Kessler followed with his second RBI single of the game. Kessler was caught trying to extend the single into a double, and Guthrie had the first out of the inning. Josh and Dan then each hit singles, and the Slams had runners on the corners with one out. Joe came to the plate and crushed a three-run homer to deep left field, putting the Ham Slams ahead 6-1. Guthrie retired Kessler to end the inning, and the Ham Slams had pulled ahead by five runs.
Dinger would double with one out in the top of the fourth, but Cookies & Cream couldn’t capitalize, as Jordan was retired for the second out of the inning, stranding the runner at second.
Guthrie retired the side in order in the bottom of the fourth, and Cookies would cut into the Ham Slams lead in the top of the fifth.
Guthrie tripled to start the inning, and he scored when Blose grounded out for the first out of the inning. Joe then retired Joey to end the inning with the score 6-2.
The Slams couldn’t add any insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth, and they would head into the final frame with a four run lead.
Jordan tripled with one out in the top of the sixth, but Cookies couldn’t put together a rally. Joe retired Guthrie to strand the runner, ending the inning and the game.
The 6-2 game 3 win put the Hams Slams ahead 2-1 in the best-of-five series with Cookies & Cream. A win in game 4 would earn a berth in the 2016 EWL Wiffle Series.
W: Joe (2-0)
L: Guthrie (1-1)
Game Notes:
– Joe pitched the complete game win for the Ham Slams, giving up 2 runs on only 4 hits in 6 innings pitched.
– Guthrie earned the loss in the complete game effort for Cookies & Cream, giving up 6 runs on 11 hits in 5 innings.
– Joe led the Ham Slams on offense, going 4-for-5 with a single, 2 doubles, a home run, 3 runs scored, and 3 RBI.
– Josh also went 4-for-5 with the Ham Slams with a single, 2 doubles, a home run, 2 runs scored, and one RBI.
– Guthrie, Blose, Dinger, and Jordan each had one hit for Cookies & Cream in the loss.
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