Tom’s walk-off solo homer to lead off the bottom of the eighth gave Shady Characters a 4-3 win
With Jack Shack and Shady Characters tied at 3-3, Tom led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a towering solo shot to right-center, hitting a walk-off homer to his signature spot on the field, giving Shady Characters a 4-3 lead and their third consecutive win.
As usual, Tom started on the mound for Shady Characters. He rolled through the top of the first, retiring Brian and Turbo in order.
Brian took the mound for Jack Shack, and Shady Characters got to him early. He allowed a one-out triple to Mike, and Tom provided his own run support, driving in Mike with an RBI single to make the score 1-0. Brian then retired Jason to strand Tom, ending the inning.
Tom continued to pitch effectively in the top of the second, sending Dustin and Josh down in order.
Dylan hit a one-out single in the bottom of the second, and Mike drove him in with an RBI double, putting Shady Characters ahead 2-0. Brian then retired Tom to end the inning, stranding Mike.
Having reached his innings limit for the week, Tom was removed from the mound, and Lucas entered the game in relief. He retired the first two batters he faced in the top of the third, Brian and Turbo, and Jack Shack was hitless through three innings.
Brian pitched his first scoreless inning in the bottom of the third, retiring Jason and Lucas, and the score remained 2-0.
Jack Shack got their first hit in the top of the fourth, but they couldn’t capitalize. Josh hit a one-out double, but Lucas retired the next batter, Brian, to strand Josh at second, ending the inning.
Shady Characters added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Mike continued his hot start to the 2021 season, hitting a solo homer, making the score 3-0. Brian then retired Tom to end the inning.
Down three runs, Jack Shack finally showed a spark in the top of the fifth. Turbo led off the inning with a solo homer, cutting the score to 3-1. Dustin followed with a double, and two batters later, Brian hit a two-run shot, tying the game at 3-3. Lucas retired Turbo to end the inning, and after trailing for four innings, Jack Shack had drawn even.
Mike went 4-for-5 to lead Shady Characters at the plate
Brian retired the side in order in the bottom of the fifth, sending Jason and Lucas down consecutively.
Josh doubled with one out in the top of the sixth, putting the go-ahead run in scoring position, but Lucas buckled down, retiring Brian to strand Josh at second, ending the inning.
Shady Characters had a similar fate in the bottom of the sixth. Mike doubled with one out, putting the winning run on second, but Brian cracked down, retiring Tom to strand him at second, ending the inning, and sending the game to extra innings.
Lucas remained in the game for Shady Characters, and in the seventh, he retired Turbo and Dustin in order.
Brian also remained in the game for Jack Shack. Jack Shack made a surprising move to start the bottom of the seventh, intentionally walking Jason to put the winning run on base with no outs. Brian retired Lucas for the first out of the inning, but then allowed a one-out single to Dylan. Shady Characters had runners on the corners with one out and their best hitter, Mike coming to the plate. The intentional walk seemed like a questionable move, but Jack Shack proved the doubters wrong. Brian retired Mike, stranding both runners, and ending the inning, sending the game to the eighth.
Lucas struck out Josh to start the top of the eighth, and then retired Brian, as the score remained tied at 3-3.
Shady Characters had been held scoreless for three consecutive innings, but the streak would end in the bottom of the eighth. Tom led off the inning with a solo homer to right-center, as he and Shady Characters walked off with a 4-3 extra innings win.
The win moved Shady Characters to 5-1 on the season, and the loss dropped Jack Shack to 1-4.
W: Lucas (2-0)
L: Brian (1-2)
Game Notes:
– Lucas earned the win for Shady Characters, pitching six innings of relief, allowing three runs on five hits and striking out one.
– Brian took the loss for Jack Shack, giving up four runs on eight hits in seven innings.
– Tom started the game for Shady Characters and got a no-decision, pitching two scoreless innings.
– Mike led Shady Characters on offense, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, a homer, two runs scored, and two RBI.
– Josh was the only Jack Shack player with multiple hits. He went 2-for-5 with two doubles.
– Tom’s walk-off homer was the first of his career, the first of the 2021 season, and the first in the league since Brian hit one for Jack Shack in 2020.
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