Dylan went 7-for-8 with six extra-base hits including four doubles and two homers, to lead Shady Characters to a win over Jack Shack
Despite playing with two players who had never stepped on the Wiffle Diamond, Jack Shack led Shady Characters sporadically throughout the game and held a three-run lead heading into the sixth inning. But then the wheels fell off the magic bus, and Shady Characters rolled for nine runs in the top of the sixth, pulling away to a 15-9 win. Dylan was 7-for-8 with four doubles in the win, Mike had two homers and five RBI, and Brad went 5-for-7 as Shady Characters completed their first undefeated week of the 2020 EWL season. They remained in last place in the EWL standings, but only a game out of second and two games out of first.
Brian took the mound for Jack Shack, playing without two of their veteran regulars. He allowed a leadoff double to Dylan, but retired the next two batters, stranding him at second and ending the inning.
Dylan started for Shady Characters, and after allowing a one-out single to Brian, he fanned Blaine, making his EWL debut, to end the inning with the game scoreless through one.
Dylan once again doubled in the top of the second, but Brian once again stranded him, retiring Mike for the second out of the inning.
Jack Shack got on the board in the bottom of the second. Dylan struck out Caroline for the first out of the inning, but Turbo followed with a solo homer, and Jack Shack led 1-0. Brian followed with a double, and Blaine registered his first career hit, a two-run blast to left-center that put Jack Shack ahead 3-0. Dylan got Caroline to ground out to left for the second out, but Jack Shack had taken a three run lead.
Shady Characters quickly evened things up in the top of the third. Brad singled with one out, and he moved from first to third when Dylan followed with his third consecutive double. Mike came to the plate and crushed a three-run homer, tying the game at 3-3. Brian then retired Sam for the second out of the inning.
Mike secures a fly ball in centerfield for an out
Jack Shack bounced back in the bottom of the third. Brian doubled with one out, and Blaine followed with an RBI double, scoring Brian to put Jack Shack back ahead 4-3. Dylan then fanned Caroline to end the inning.
Shady Characters reclaimed the lead in the top of the fourth. With one out, Dylan hit a solo bomb to right, tying the game at 4-4. Mike then doubled, and Sam drove him in with an RBI triple, putting Shady Characters in front 5-4. Brad followed with a single, scoring Sam from third and the score was 6-4. Brian finally retired Dylan, stranding Brad at first and ending the inning with Shady Characters up by two runs.
Shady Characters celebrate at the plate after one of Dylan’s two bombs
Jack Shack continued to show heart and swing hot bats in the bottom of the fourth. Turbo singled to lead off the inning, and Brian tied the game with a two-run homer to left-center. Blaine followed with a triple, and after striking out Caroline, Dylan gave up a two-run shot to Turbo, which put Jack Shack in front 8-6. Dylan retired Brian to end the inning, and Jack Shack had pulled ahead again in the back-and-forth slugfest.
Brian rolled in the top of the fifth, sending Mike and Sam down in order.
Shady Characters turned to the bullpen in the bottom of the fifth, bringing Brad to the mound. The first batter he faced, Blaine, doubled. Two batters later, Turbo hit an RBI single, scoring Blaine to make the score 9-6. Brian followed with a single, and Jack Shack had two runners on with one out. But Brad cracked down, retiring Blaine for the second out, ending the inning and stranding two runners.
Mike continued to spark the Shady Characters’ offense, going 5-for-8 with two homers and five RBI
Jack Shack had miraculously made it to the sixth inning with a three-run lead, despite playing with two players who had never touched a wiffle bat or ball. It looked as if Jack Shack would pull off a legendary victory, and then reality returned. Shady Characters busted out of their funk and strung together nine hits, including seven consecutive, to take the lead in the top of the sixth. Brad tripled to start the inning, and Dylan drove him in with an RBI single that cut the deficit to 9-7. Two batters later, Sam hit a one-out RBI single, the first of seven consecutive hits Shady Characters would deliver, and the score was 9-8. Brad then singled, putting two runners on with one out. Dylan hit his fourth double of the game, and cleared the two baserunners to put Shady Characters back on top 10-9. Mike followed with a two-run shot, his second homer of the game, extending the Shady Characters lead to 12-9. Sam then singled, and Brad drove him in with his second triple of the inning, making the score 13-9. Dylan then homered for the second time in the game, and his two-run bomb put Shady Characters ahead 15-9. Mike followed with a single, but after seven straight hits, Brian finally recorded an out, betting Sam to ground out to the mound, ending the inning. The nine run inning gave Shady Characters a 15-9 lead despite trailing by three heading into the inning.
Jack Shack would need an absolute miracle to pull off the upset win, and it wouldn’t happen. Brad retired Caroline and Turbo in order in the bottom of the sixth, ending the game and giving Shady Characters the win.
Shady Characters moved to 3-5 on the season, and Jack Shack dropped to 3-4.
W: Dylan (1-1)
L: Brian (3-1)
Game Notes:
– Dylan earned the win for Shady Characters, allowing eight runs on ten hits in four innings. Dylan also set the single-game EWL record for pitching strikeouts, with four. This broke the single-game record of three, which was held by Guthrie – 6/28/11, Mark – 5/10/12, Guthrie – 5/14/13, Josh – 6/18/13, Helal – 7/9/13, Christian – 5/6/14, Christian – 6/23/15, Christian – 5/2/17, Dustin – 5/2/17, BK – 5/23/17, Christian – 6/19/18, and Josh K – 6/30/20.
– Brad pitched two innings of relief for Shady Characters, giving up one run on three hits.
– Brian took the loss in a complete game effort for Jack Shack. He gave up fifteen runs on nineteen hits in six innings.
– Dylan led Shady Characters on offense, going 7-for-8 with a single, four doubles, two home runs, five runs scored, and six RBI.
– Brad went 5-for-7 with three singles, two triples, four runs scored, and two RBI.
– Mike went 4-for-8 with two doubles, two home runs, three runs scored, and five RBI.
– Turbo led Jack Shack at the plate, going 4-for-7 with two singles, two home runs, three runs scored and five RBI.
– Brian also went 5-for-6 for Jack Shack, with two singles, two doubles, a home run, three runs scored, and two RBI.
– Blaine, making his EWL debut, went 4-for-6 with tow doubles, a triple, a home run, three runs scored, and three RBI.
– Shady Characters tied the single-game team record of pitching strikeouts with 4, tying the Ham Slams who struck out four batters on July 3rd, 2012.
– Jack Shack tied the single-game team record of batting strikeouts with 4, tying Caucasians who struck out four times on July 3rd, 2012.
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