Brett delivered an all-time great playoff performance with three homers and five RBI as he led Cheap Goats back to the Wiffle Series
Brett went 4-for-4 with three homers and four runs scored, as Cheap Goats stormed past Jack Shack 9-3 in the decisive game five of the best-of-five first round series. After being only two outs away from clinching the series in game four before losing in heartbreaking fashion, Cheap Goats responded in game five with ten hits, and Miller pitched the complete game win, keeping the Jack Shack bats in check. Cheap Goats avenged their loss to Jack Shack in the 2020 Wiffle Series, and they will now advance to the 2021 Wiffle Series to face Shady Characters.
After winning game four with Brian’s extra-innings walk-off homer, Jack Shack got off to a good start in game five. Adam led off with a triple, and Josh D followed with a two-run homer, giving Jack Shack a 2-0 lead immediately. Two batters later, Doc hit a one-out double, but Miller avoided further damage, retiring Adam to strand him at second, ending the inning.
Brett led off the bottom of the first with a leadoff homer, the first for any player during the 2021 playoffs, and the score was 2-1. Jack Shack’s starter, Brian, then retired Joey and Miller to end the inning.
Brett squares up a pitch from Brian
After allowing two runs in the top of the first, Miller got into a groove in the top of the second. He retired Josh D and Brian in order.
Trailing by a run, Cheap Goats rebounded from their game four loss, starting in the bottom of the second. Christian doubled, and two batters later, Brett his his second homer of the game, a one-out two-run shot that put Cheap Goats in front 3-2. Joey followed with a single, and Miller drove him in with a two-run homer, making the score 5-2. Brian struck out Christian to end the inning, but Cheap Goats had scored four runs, taking a three-run lead.
Cheap Goats celebrate at the plate after Miller’s two-run homer in the second inning put them ahead 5-2
Miller rolled once again in the top of the third, retiring Doc and Adam consecutively.
Jack Shack turned to the bullpen, bringing Adam to the mound, and Cheap Goats extended their lead in the bottom of the third. Dinger doubled, and Brett drove him in with an RBI double, putting Cheap Goats ahead 6-2. Joey then singled, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Miller doubled, scoring Brett, and Cheap Goats led 7-2. Adam got Christian to ground out for the first out of the inning, but Joey scored on the play, and the Cheap Goats lead was 8-2. Adam retired Dinger to escape the inning, stranding Miller at third, and Jack Shack trailed by six.
Josh D led off the top of the fourth with a single, but Jack Shack couldn’t rally. Miller retired Brian and Doc to strand Josh D at first, ending the inning.
Cheap Goats welcome Brett at the plate after his third homer in game five
Jack Shack brought Brian back to the mound in the bottom of the fourth, and the first batter he faced, Brett, crushed a solo homer to right-center, his third of the game. Brian retired Joey and Miller to end the inning, but Cheap Goats now led 9-2.
Adam led off the top of the fifth with a single, but once again, Miller stranded a Jack Shack runner. He retired Josh D and then struck out Brian to end the inning, stranding Adam at first.
Brian was effective in the bottom of the fifth, retiring Christian and Dinger in order.
Jack Shack trailed 9-2 heading into the top of the sixth, and they would need seven runs to extend their 2021 season. The first batter of the inning, Doc, hit a leadoff double. Miller retired the next batter, Adam, but Doc scored from second on the play, narrowing the deficit to 9-3. The rally would end there, however, as Miller struck out Josh D to end the inning and the game, giving Cheap Goats a 9-3 win in game five.
Miller pitched the complete game win, picking up his third win in the series, and tying the single-game playoff record for strikeouts, with two
The win won the best-of-five series for Cheap Goats, three games to two, as they advance to the Wiffle Series to face Shady Characters. Jack Shack, the two-time defending champions, were eliminated in the first round for the first time in franchise history.
W: Miller (3-0)
L: Brian (2-3)
Game Notes:
– Miller pitched the complete game win for Cheap Goats, allowing three runs on six hits. He tied the single-game postseason record for strikeouts, with two.
– Brian took the loss for Jack Shack, giving up six runs on six hits and striking out one in four innings.
– Adam pitched one inning of relief for Jack Shack, allowing three runs on four hits.
– Brett led Cheap Goats on offense, going 4-for-4 with a double, three home runs, five RBI, and four runs scored.
– Miller also had two extra-base hits for Cheap Goats, going 2-for-4 with a double, a homer, a run scored, and three RBI.
– Josh D led Jack Shack at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a single, a homer, a run scored, and two RBI.