Blose went 4-for-6 to lead Cookies & Cream, driving in four of the seven Cookies & Cream runs
After falling behind 2-1 in the best-of-five series with the Ham Slams, Cookies & Cream bounced back in game 4, winning 7-4 and forcing a game 5 where the winner will advance to the Wiffle Series to face Questionable Outfit. Blose and Guthrie each went 4-for-6 to lead Cookies, with Blose contributing a single, two doubles, and a homer and Guthrie collecting a single, two doubles, and a triple.
The Ham Slams ace, Josh, took the mound for the Ham Slams, and he fell behind early. Guthrie led off the game with a triple, and Blose drove him in with an RBI double that put Cookies & Cream ahead 1-0. Two batters later, Dinger singled, putting runners on the corners with one out. Guthrie then singled, scoring Blose to make the score 2-0. Cookies had two men on and were threatening to take a big lead, but Josh retired Blose to end the inning, stranding both runners.
Cookies & Cream started Joey in his first pitching appearance of the 2016 postseason. After retiring Josh to start the bottom of the first, Dan tripled. Joe continued to swing a hot bat, hitting an RBI double to make the score 2-1. Joey then retired Adam to strand Joe and end the inning, and Cookies & Cream led by a run after one.
Josh fanned Joey for the first out in the top of the second, and he got Dinger to fly out to center for the second out. Joey allowed a one-out double to Dan in the bottom of the second, but stranded him, retiring Joe to end the inning.
Cookies & Cream would jump out to a big lead in the top of the third. Guthrie doubled to start the inning, and when Blose followed with a single, Guthrie was caught trying to get from first to third for the first out of the inning. With one out and a runner on first, Joey tripled, scoring Blose, and Cookies led 3-1. Dinger then singled, scoring Joey to put Cookies ahead 4-1. Guthrie followed with a double to put runners on second and third, and Blose cleared the bases with a two-RBI double, extending the Cookies lead to 6-1. Josh finally escaped the inning by retiring Joey, stranding Blose at second.
Down 6-1, the Ham Slams were retired in order in the bottom of the third, as Adam and Josh flew out to Jordan in center field. Josh matched Joey in the top of the fourth, sending Dinger and Guthrie down consecutively.
The Ham Slams cut into the Cookies & Cream lead in the bottom of the fourth. Joe triple with one out, and Kessler drove him in with a two-run blast to left, making the score 6-3. Joey then retired Josh to end the inning, and Cookies & Cream led by three runs.
Kessler squares up a pitch. His two-run homer in the fourth inning narrow the Cookies & Cream lead.
Blose led off the top of the fifth with a solo shot to left, putting Cookies & Cream ahead 7-3. Joey followed with a double, but Cookies couldn’t add more insurance runs, as Josh retired Dinger and Guthrie to strand the runner and end the inning.
Dan tripled to start the bottom of the fifth, and he scored on a Joe groundout to right field. Joey then retired Kessler for the second out of the inning, and Cookies led 7-4 heading into the sixth.
Guthrie went 4-for-6 with three extra-base hits in game 4
Josh retired the side in order in the sixth, as Blose and Joey both popped out.
Up four runs, Joey remained in the game to close things out in the bottom of the sixth. He got Josh to fly out to Blose in left for the first out of the inning, and Dan flew out to deep center field for the second out, ending the inning and the game.
The 7-4 Cookies & Cream win tied the series, forcing a decisive game 5 in the first round series.
W: Joey (1-0)
L: Josh (0-1)
Game Notes:
– Joey pitched the complete game win for Cookies & Cream, giving up 4 runs on 6 hits in 6 innings.
– Josh took the loss for the Ham Slams, allowing 7 runs on 12 hits and striking out one in 6 innings.
– Blose and Guthrie each went 4-for-6 to lead Cookies & Cream. Blose had a single, 2 doubles, a home run, 3 runs scored, and 4 RBI. Guthrie had a single, 2 doubles, a triple, 2 runs scored, and one RBI.
– Dan led the Ham Slams on offense, going 3-for-5 with a double, two triples, and two runs scored.
– Cookies & Cream have played in a game 5 the past four consecutive years in the first round of the playoffs.
– Dan tied the single-game playoff record for triples, with two.