Josh earned the win on the mound for the Ham Slams and had a single, two doubles, and a triple, as the Slams finished at .500, their best regular season in franchise history
Josh and Steve were dominant on the mound as they combined to allow only one run on two hits, and they each contributed four hits on offense as the Ham Slams beat Eastbound & Dahn 8-1 in both teams’ final regular season game for 2017. The Ham Slams finished the season 10-10, their best regular season record as a franchise and their first time finishing a season without being under .500. Eastbound & Dahn finished the season at 2-18 on the longest losing streak in EWL history.
BK started on the mound for Eastbound & Dahn, and the Ham Slams would get all of the run support they needed in the top of the first. Orick (filling in for Dan, who was out), doubled to lead off, and Josh followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Jergens (filling in for Dustin, who was also out), singled, scoring Orick to make the score 1-0. Steve then doubled, scoring Josh, and the Ham Slams led 2-0. Orick grounded out to right for the first out of the inning, but Jergens scored on the play, pushing the Ham Slams lead to 3-0. BK escaped the inning when he got Josh to ground out to center for the second out of the inning.
Josh got the start for the Ham Slams, and he retired Eastbound in order in the bottom of the first.
The Ham Slams added to their lead in the top of the second. Jergens doubled, and Steve followed with a two-run blast to right-center, making the score 5-0. Josh would later double with one out, but BK stranded him and Eastbound & Dahn trailed by five.
Josh continued to roll, retiring Kyle and Nate C in order in the bottom of the second.
Steve doubled to start the top of the third, and he scored on an Orick sacrifice fly, making the score 6-0. Josh followed with a double, but he was caught out trying to extend the hit into a triple, ending the inning.
Josh had reached his innings limit for the week, and Steve came into the game to relieve him on the mound. He allowed a one-out single to BK, Eastbound’s first hit of the game, but Eastbound couldn’t capitalize, as Steve retired Nate O for the second out of the inning, stranding the runner.
Steve, who went 4-for-6 with a single, two doubles, and a home run, makes a great one-handed catch in left field
Steve singled with one out in the top of the fourth, his fourth consecutive at-bat with a hit, but BK escaped the inning without allowing further damage, retiring Orick to strand the runner and end the inning.
Steve cruised through the bottom of the fourth, retiring Christian and Kyle in order.
Josh led off the top of the fifth with a triple, his fourth hit of the game, and he scored on a Jergens groundout, making the score 7-0. BK then retired Steve for the first time in the game, ending the inning.
Steve once again sent Eastbound & Dahn down in order in the bottom of the fifth, retiring Nate C and Adam.
Orick started the top of the sixth with a triple, and he scored when Josh grounded out to left. Jergens followed with a triple, but BK retired Steve for the second out, and Eastbound & Dahn trailed 7-0.
Down to their final at-bat of the 2017 regular season, Eastbound & Dahn showed some life when Nate O hit a one-out solo homer, getting them on the board. Steve retired the next batter, Christian, to end the game, and the Ham Slams had topped Eastbound 7-1 as both teams would head into the post-season to face the same opponents they matched up against in 2016.
W: Josh (3-6)
L: BK (1-7)
Game Notes::
– Josh earned the win for the Ham Slams, pitching two perfect innings, allowing no hits and no runs.
– Steve pitched four innings of relief for the Ham Slams, giving up one run on two hits.
– BK took the loss for Eastbound & Dahn, giving up eight runs on thirteen hits in six innings.
– Steve led the Ham Slams on offense, going 4-for-6 with a single, two doubles, two runs scored, and three RBI.
– Josh also went 4-for-6 for the Ham Slams with a single, two doubles, a triple, two runs scored, and an RBI.
– Nate O had the only offensive production for Eastbound & Dahn, going 1-for-3 with a home run, a run scored, and an RBI.
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