Erich had a historically dominant performance in game 2, going 8-for-8, hitting for the cycle twice.
After sputtering on offense in a game 1 loss, Shady Characters exploded for nineteen runs in game 2, as Erich hit for the cycle twice in the same game, and the best-of-five first round series was evened at 1-1. Erich was 8-for-8 with two singles, two doubles, two triples, two home runs, six runs scored, and five RBI, becoming the first player in EWL history to hit for the cycle twice in one playoff game. Dylan, Tom W, and Jason each had five hits, and Shady Characters scored nineteen unanswered runs after falling behind 2-0 in the top of the first. Dylan pitched the complete game win, and he also set the EWL single-game playoff record for triples, with four, shattering the previous mark of two.
Cheap Goats got to Dylan early in the top of the first, but after taking an early lead, they wouldn’t score again until late in the game when they trailed by double digits. Jordan led off the game with a triple, and he scored when Joey followed with an RBI triple that made the score 1-0. Christian then singled, scoring Joey, and Cheap Goats led 2-0. Just when it looked like Cheap Goats may jump out to a big lead in both the game and the series, Dylan retired Dinger and Jordan to end the inning, and his offense took over in the bottom half of the inning.
Tom W had five extra-base hits, including three two-run bombs, propelling Shady Characters to the big game 2 victory.
Dinger took the mound for Cheap Goats, and he got into trouble early. Dylan led off the inning with a triple, and Tom W tied the game with a two-run homer, making the score 2-2. Erich followed with a triple, and he scored from third when Jason grounded out for the first out of the inning. Dinger then retired Dylan to end the inning, and Shady Characters led 3-2.
Joey led off the top of the second with a double, but Cheap Goats couldn’t tie the game. Dylan retired Christian and Dinger to strand the runner, maintaining the one-run lead.
Shady Characters would pull ahead to a comfortable lead in the bottom of the second. Tom W doubled, and he scored from second on Erich’s RBI single, making the score 4-2. Jason then doubled, scoring Erich, and Shady Characters led 5-2. Dylan followed with his second triple of the game, scoring Jason, giving Shady Characters a 6-2 lead. Tom W grounded out for the first out of the inning, but Dylan scored on the play, extending the lead to 7-2. Erich followed with a double, but Dinger finally got out of the inning, retiring Jason to strand the runner, and Cheap Goats trailed by four runs.
Dylan rolled through the top of the third, retiring Jordan and Joey in order, and Shady Characters blew the game open in the bottom of the third.
Dylan had a strong game at the plate and also kept Cheap Goats in check on the mound, producing scoreless innings in four of the six innings he pitched.
Dylan led off the inning with his third triple of the game, breaking the single-game playoff record. Tom W followed with his second two-run home run of the game, pushing the lead to 9-2. Erich tripled for the second time in the game, and Jason followed with a two-run shot, making the score 11-2. Dylan tripled yet again, extending his single-game record to four triples, and Tom W hit his third two-run blast of the game, and Shady Characters now led 13-2. Dinger was removed from the game, and Cheap Goats turned to Christian from the bullpen. The first batter he faced, Erich, doubled, and Jason drove him in with an RBI triple. The inning finally ended when Christian retired the next two batters, Dylan and Tom W, but Shady Characters had scored seven runs in the inning, essentially putting Cheap Goats away with a 14-2 lead through three innings.
Christian doubled to start the top of the fourth, but Cheap Goats couldn’t rally, as Dylan retired Dinger and Jordan to strand the runner, ending the inning.
Shady Characters continued to pile it on in the bottom of the fourth. Erich led off the inning with a solo homer, giving him the cycle, and the lead was 15-2. Jason followed with his second triple of the game, and Dylan drove him in with an RBI double that made the score 16-2. Two batters later, Erich hit a one-out single, scoring Dylan from second, and Shady Characters led 17-2. Christian retired Jason for the second out of the inning, and Cheap Goats trailed by fifteen runs.
Dylan connects on one of his EWL single-game playoff record four triples.
Dylan continued to mow down Cheap Goats hitters in the top of the fifth, sending Joey and Christian down in order.
Shady Characters finished their offensive onslaught in the bottom of the fifth. Joey came to the mound, making his first pitching appearance of the 2018 season. He retired the first batter he faced, Dylan, but then Shady Characters would add a few more insurance runs. Tom W doubled, and Erich completed his second cycle in the game, hitting a mammoth two-run shot to right, putting Shady Characters ahead 19-2. Jason followed with a double, but Joey escaped further damage, retiring Dylan to end the inning. Shady Characters had scored two or more runs in every inning, with nineteen unanswered runs, and led by seventeen runs heading into the sixth.
Joey connects on a solo homer in the top of the fifth. He was 3-for-5 with three extra-base hits in the blowout loss.
Cheap Goats showed some life in the top of the sixth, but it was far too little too late. Dinger started the inning with a single, and Jordan followed with a two-run homer than cut the score to 19-4. Joey followed with a solo homer, and the back-to-back jacks made the score 19-5. The rally would end there. Dylan fanned Christian for the first out of the inning, and then retired Dinger to end the inning and the game.
The 19-5 Shady Characters win evened the best-of-five first round series at 1-1.
W: Dylan (1-0)
L: Dinger (0-1)
Game Notes:
– Dylan pitched the complete game win for Shady Characters, allowing five runs on eight hits, striking out one in six innings.
– Dinger took the loss for Cheap Goats, giving up thirteen runs on fourteen hits in 2.5 innings pitched.
– Christian and Joey both pitched out of the bullpen for Cheap Goats. Christian pitched two innings, allowing four runs on six hits. Joey pitched a single inning, giving up two runs on three hits.
– Erich led Shady Characters on offense, becoming the first player in EWL playoff history to hit for the cycle twice in one game. He went a perfect 8-for-8 with two singles, two doubles, two triples, two home runs, six runs scored, and five RBI.
– Dylan went 5-for-9 for Shady Characters, with a double, a record-breaking four triples, five runs scored, and two RBI.
– Tom W went 5-for-8 for Shady Characters, with two doubles, three home runs, five runs scored, and seven RBI.
– Joey led Cheap Goats at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a double, a triple, a home run, two runs scored, and two RBI.
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