Erich led his new team to a victory with an MVP performance, going 3-for-5 with three extra-base hits
2017 EWL MVP Erich picked up where he left off, starting the 2018 season with two home runs and five runs batted in, carrying his new team, Shady Characters, to a 10-3 Opening Day win over Loss Mitigation, led by 2013, ’14, ’15, and ’16 MVP Bob. Tom W, one of Shady Characters’ three rookies also went 3-for-5 in the game, and Tom K, also a rookie, pitched the complete game win.
Norris, who has made several sporadic appearances for Questionable Outfit in the past, started on the mound for Loss Mitigation. Dylan, making his EWL debut for Shady Characters, singled in his first career at-bat in the top of the first, and two batters later, Tom W drove him in with his first career hit, an RBI triple that made the score 1-0.
Tom K took the mound for Shady Characters, and after giving up a leadoff single to Bob, he retired the next two batters, ending the inning.
Norris retired Shady Characters in order in the top of the second, and Tom K matched him in the bottom of the second, as the score remained 1-0.
Shady Characters extended their lead in the top of the third when Tom W led off with a double, and the next batter, Erich, crushed a two-run blast to right field, making the score 3-0.
Tom W went 3-for-5 in his EWL debut
Loss Mitigation got on the board in the bottom of the third. Mike led off with a single and moved to third on a Nate double, putting two runners in scoring position. Norris grounded out to left for the first out of the inning, but Mike scored on the play, cutting the Shady Characters lead to 3-1. Tom K then retired Bob to strand Nate at third, ending the inning.
Shady Characters made up the run in the top of the fourth. Erich doubled with one out, and he scored from second on Dylan’s RBI single that made the score 4-1.
Mike led off the bottom of the fourth with a double, but Tom K stranded him at second, retiring the next two batters to end the inning.
2017 EWL Batting Champion Mike went 5-for-6 in the Loss Mitigation loss
Norris retired the Shady Characters side in order in the top of the fifth. and Loss Mitigation narrowed the deficit in the bottom half of the inning. Bob led off with a solo homer, and Mike followed with a solo shot. The back-to-back homers cut the score to 4-3 and pulled Loss Mitigation within a run. Two batters later, Norris hit a one-out double to put the tying run in scoring position, but Tom K maintained the lead, retiring Bob to strand the runner and end the inning.
Norris of Loss Mitigation delivers a pitch to Tom K of Shady Characters in the opening game of the 2018 EWL season
Up a run heading into the final frame, Shady Characters added a few insurance runs and increased their lead. Each of the Toms singled with one out, putting two runners on for Erich, who crushed a three-run bomb, making the score 7-3. Norris retired Dylan to end the inning, and Loss Mitigation trailed by four.
Loss Mitigation made a run in the bottom of the sixth, starting with Mike, who singled to lead off. Nate, known for being one of the most clutch hitters in league history, hit a two-run homer to make the score 7-5. Norris followed with a single, and two batters later, Mike hit a single to put runners on the corners with the tying run on base and the winning run at the plate. Nate came to the plate with a chance to drive in five runs in the inning on two homers, including a walk-off, but he couldn’t repeat the magic. Tom K retired him to strand both runners, ending the inning and the game with Shady Characters holding on to win 7-5.
Tom K earned a victory in his first career start, pitching a complete game for Shady Characters
The win moved Shady Characters to 1-0 on the season, and Loss Mitigation dropped to 0-1 with the loss.
W: Tom K (1-0)
L: Norris (0-1)
Game Notes:
– Erich led Shady Characters at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a double, two home runs, three runs scored, and five RBI.
– Tom W also went 3-for-5 for Shady Characters, with a single, a double, a triple, two runs scored, and an RBI.
– Mike led Loss Mitigation on offense, going 5-for-6 with three singles, a double, a home run, three runs scored, and an RBI.
– Tom K pitched the complete game win for Shady Characters, allowing five runs on eleven hits in six innings.
– Norris took the loss for Loss Mitigation, giving up seven runs on nine hits in six innings.
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