Shady Characters Squeeze Past Jack Shack 8-7 to Take Control of First Place

12 Jun

In one of the best games of the 2021 season, Shady Characters, led by Jason and Tom, narrowly defeated Jack Shack 8-7, assuming sole possession of first place in the EWL standings. Tom went 3-for-3 with a double, two homers, three runs scored, and two RBI, and Jason went 3-for-4 with two singles, a home run, a run scored, and four RBI, as Shady Characters came out of the back-and-forth game with a W.

Tom started on the mound, and Jack Shack got to him early. Brian led off the the game with a double, and two batters later, Dustin hit a two-run bomb, making the score 2-0. Tom then retired Adam to end the inning.

Shady Characters immediately got out their bats and took the lead back in the bottom of the first. Mike singled with one out, and he moved from first to third when Tom followed with a double. With one out and two runners in scoring position, Jason hit a three-run homer, putting Shady Characters in front 3-2. Dustin, Jack Shack’s starter, struck out Lucas for the second out of the inning.

Jack Shack bounced back in the top of the second. Josh D led off the a double, and he moved to third when Brian followed with a single, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Turbo grounded out for the first out of the inning, but Josh D scored on the play, tying the game at 3-3. Dustin then tripled, scoring Brian, and Jack Shack once again led 4-3. Tom retired Adam to end the inning, and Jack Shack was up by a run.

Shady Characters wasted no time reclaiming the lead in the bottom of the second. Dylan led off the inning with a solo homer, tying the game at 4-4. Two batters later, Tom hit a solo shot, and Shady Characters led 5-4. Jason followed with a single, but Dustin stranded him, retiring Lucas to end the inning.

Tom had met his innings limit for the week, and Shady Characters turned to Lucas from the bullpen in the top of the third. He retired Josh D, and after allowing a one-out triple to Brian, he stranded him at third, retiring Turbo to end the inning.

Shady Characters added to their lead in the bottom of the third. For the second consecutive inning, Dylan led off with a solo homer, making the score 6-4. Mike doubled, and he moved to third when Tom hit a sacrifice fly to right. Jason followed with an RBI single, scoring Mike, putting Shady Characters in front 7-4. Dustin then retired Lucas for the second out of the inning, and Shady Characters had taken a three-run lead.

Jack Shack chipped into the deficit in the top of the fourth. Dustin led off the inning with a solo homer, and Adam followed with a solo shot. The back-to-back jacks narrowed the score to 7-6. Lucas retired Josh D and Brian to escape the inning, maintaining Shady Characters’ one-run lead.

Dustin pitched his first perfect frame in the bottom of the fourth, sending Dylan and Mike down in order.

Turbo singled to start the top of the fifth, and he moved from first to third when Dustin followed with a single. Jack Shack were threatening, with no outs and two on, but Lucas buckled down. He retired Adam for the first out, and then struck out Josh D to end the inning, stranding the tying and go-ahead runners on base.

Shady Characters added one last insurance run in the bottom of the fifth when Tom led off the inning with his second solo homer of the game, making the score 8-6. Dustin retired Jason and Lucas to end the inning, and Jack Shack trailed by two runs heading into their final at-bat.

With the score 8-6, Brian led off the top of the sixth with a solo homer, which gave him his third career cycle, and the score was now 8-7. Lucas retired Turbo for the first out of the inning, and then Shady Characters intentionally walked Dustin, who was 4-for-4 to this point in the game, putting the typing runner on base. The gamble worked, as Lucas struck out Adam to strand Dustin at first, ending the game, and giving Shady Characters the 8-7 win.

The win moved Shady Characters to 7-1 on the season, and the loss dropped Jack Shack to 3-5.

W: Tom (5-1)
L Dustin (1-2)
S: Lucas (1)

Box Score

Game Notes:
– Tom earned the win for Shady Characters, allowing four runs on five hits in two innings.
– Lucas picked up a four-inning save, giving up three runs on six hits and striking out two.
– Dustin pitched the complete game loss for Jack Shack, allowing eight runs on ten hits and striking out one.
– Tom and Jason led the way for Shady Characters. Tom went 3-for-3 with a double, two homers, three runs scored, two RBI, and a sac fly. Jason went 3-for-4 with two singles, a homer, a run scored, and four RBI.
– Dylan also went 2-for-4 with two solo homers for Shady Characters.
– Dustin and Brian led Jack Shack at the plate. Dustin went 4-for-4 with a single, a triple, two home runs, two runs scored, four RBI, and an intentional walk. Brian went 4-for-5 with a single, double, triple, homer, three runs scored, and one RBI. Brian hit for the cycle for the third time in his wiffle career, and has now hit for the cycle once in each of his EWL seasons.

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