Mark’s three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth was his first career hit, and tied the game at 3-3.
After trailing the majority of the game, Eastbound & Dahn came from behind to start their season with a win, beating Cookies & Cream 4-3. Mark, making his EWL debut, hit a late three-run homer to tie the game, and Christian’s RBI double in the bottom of the fifth put Eastbound ahead for good. After finishing the 2016 regular season 2-18, Eastbound has half of the season win total from last year after only one game.
Once the field had cleared following the ceremonial first pitch, Eastbound & Dahn took the field with Christian on the mound. EWL veteran Guthrie led off for Cookies & Cream, and with help from swirling winds, Christian struck him out for the first out of the inning. Blose doubled with one out, but Christian got Joey to fly out to center, ending the inning and stranding the runner.
Dinger took the mound to start the season for Cookies & Cream, and he retired Christian and Nate in order in the bottom of the first.
Christian, who earned the complete game win for Eastbound & Dahn, delivers a pitch to Guthrie of Cookies & Cream early in the season opener.
Cookies would get on the board in the top of the second and score the first runs of the 2017 EWL season. With one out, Jordan singled, and he moved from first to second on a Guthrie single. Blose followed with an RBI double, clearing the bases to make the score 2-0. Blose was caught trying to extend the hit into a triple, ending the inning.
Helal would single with one out in the bottom of the second, but Eastbound couldn’t plate a run, as Dinger retired Mark to end the inning.
Joey led off the top of the third with a double, but Christian avoided further damage. He struck out Dinger for the first out of the inning, and then got Jordan to ground out, stranding the runner in scoring position.
Dinger continued to make quick work of Eastbound in the bottom of the third, retiring Christian and striking out Nate to end the inning.
Christian races for a towering fly ball while Jordan of Cookies & Cream looks on from first
Cookies would add to their lead in the top of the fourth. Guthrie and Blose each singled to start the inning, and with runners on first and second, Joey doubled, scoring Guthrie from second. Cookies had runners at the corners with no outs, and it looked as if they would blow the game open. But Christian bukcled down, getting Dinger and Jordan to each fly out to the mound, stranding two more Cookies runners, and the score was 3-0.
Eastbound finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. BK and Helal each singled to start the inning, and in only his second career at-bat, Mark crushed a three-run blast, tying the game at 3-3. Christian followed with a single, but Eastbound couldn’t take the lead, as Dinger retired Nate and BK to strand the runner at first.
With the game tied at 3-3, Christian got back into a groove on the mound. He retired Guthrie and Blose in order in the top of the fifth, maintaining the tie.
Helal started the bottom of the fifth with a single, his third consecutive hit, and he moved from first to third on a Mark single. With no outs and runners on the corners, Christian helped his own cause, hitting an RBI double to score Helal and put Eastbound ahead 4-3. Eastbound had a chance to extend their lead, but Dinger retired Nate and BK to strand two runners, ending the inning.
Christian provided his own run support in the bottom of the fifth, hitting the game-winning RBI double which put Eastbound ahead 4-3.
Up 4-3, and two outs away from a season opening win, Christian continued to roll in the top of the sixth. He got Joey to ground out to center for the first out of the inning, and then struck out Dinger to end the game, giving Eastbound & Dahn a 4-3 victory.
Eastbound & Dahn moved to 1-0 on the season, while Cookies & Cream dropped to 0-1.
W: Christian (1-0)
L: Dinger (0-1)
Game Notes:
– Christian pitched the complete game win for Eastbound & Dahn, allowing three runs on eight hits in six innings.
– Christian also tied the EWL single-game regular season record for strikeouts, with 3.
– Dinger took the complete game loss for Cookies & Cream, giving up four runs on eight hits and striking out one in five innings.
– Helal led Eastbound & Dahn at the plate, going 3-for-3 with three singles and two runs scored.
– Mark also went 2-for-3 for Eastbound, with a single, a homer, a run scored, and three RBI.
– Blose led Cookies & Crea at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a single, two doubles, and two RBI.
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