Brian pitched five shutout innings of relief, escaped a critical jam in the top of the eighth, and hit the game-winning walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth
With the game tied at 3-3 in after seven innings, and as darkness settled over the Wiffle Diamond, game four of the first round series between Jack Shack and Cheap Goats was suspended. When the game was resumed a week later, Jack Shack escaped a jam in the top of the eighth, and they walked off with a win in the bottom of the eighth when Brian hit a two-run bomb that forced a decisive game five to determine the winner of the best-of-five first round series. The defending champs lived to fight another game, extending the series against Cheap Goats, who they beat in the 2020 Wiffle Series.
Adam started on the mound for Jack Shack, and Cheap Goats took an early lead in the top of the first. After retiring Brett, Adam allowed a one-out triple to Joey. Miller singled, scoring Joey, and Cheap Goats led 1-0. Adam then retired Christian to strand Miller at first, ending the inning.
Dinger took the mound for Cheap Goats, and he fought his way out of trouble in the bottom of the first. After retiring Adam to start the inning, he allowed back-to-back singles to Josh D and Brian, putting runners on first and second with one out. Dinger buckled down, getting Turbo to ground out to center, stranding both runners and ending the inning.
Joey went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, an intentional walk, and scored two of Cheap Goats’ three runs
Adam rolled through the top of the second, retiring Dinger and Brett in order.
Dinger allowed a one-out double to Adam in the bottom of the second, but retired Josh D to strand him at second, ending the inning, and the score remained 1-0.
Cheap Goats extended their lead in the top of the third. Joey led off with a double, and Miller drove him in with an RBI double, making the score 2-0. Two batters later, Dinger hit a one-out double, scoring Miller, and Cheap Goats led 3-0. Adam then retired Brett to end the inning, stranding Dinger at second, and Jack Shack trailed by three.
Jack Shack cut into the deficit in the bottom of the third. With one out, Turbo hit a solo homer to right-center, and Jack Shack trailed 3-1. Dinger then retired Doc to end the inning.
Turbo’s solo homer in the bottom of the third put Jack Shack on the board
Jack Shack turned to the bullpen in the top of the fourth, bringing their ace Brian to the mound. He retired Joey and Miller in order.
Dinger matched Brian in the bottom of the fourth, retiring Adam and Josh D in order.
Brian continued to roll in the top of the fifth, sending Christian and Dinger down consecutively.
Once again, Dinger did the same, retiring Brian and Turbo in the bottom of the fifth.
Cheap Goats could not add to their lead in the top of the sixth, as Brian send Brett and Joey down in order, and Jack Shack trailed 3-1 heading into what could have been their final at-bat of the 2021 season.
As they have for the last three seasons, when their backs were against the wall, Jack Shack rallied. Needing two runs to extend their 2021 season, they did just that in the bottom of the sixth. Doc led off with a double, and Adam followed with a two-run homer, tying the game at 3-3. Jack Shack needed one more run to end the game, but Dinger regrouped, and retired Josh D and Brian to send the game to extra innings.
Adam’s two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth both saved and extended Jack Shack’s season, sending the game to extra innings.
Brian continued to dominate on the mound, retiring Miller and Christian in the top of the seventh, the seventh and eighth consecutive batters he retired since entering the game.
Dinger remained on the mound in the the bottom of the seventh, and he retired Turbo and Doc in order.
At this point the Wiffle Diamond had become very dark, and considering the stakes, the game was called due to darkness.
Josh went 2-for-5 with two singles and a run scored
Several weeks later, after a rainout, the game was resumed.
Brian remained on the mound in the top of the eighth. After retiring Dinger, he allowed a one-out triple to Brett, putting the go-ahead run on third. Jack Shack elected to walk Joey to face Miller. With one out and runners on the corners, Brian got Miller to fly out to left, stranding both runners and ending the inning.
Brian’s walk-off homer in the bottom of the eighth forced a fifth game to decide which team will advance to the 2021 Wiffle Series to face Shady Characters
After escaping the jam in the top of the eighth, Brian provided more heroics in the bottom of the inning. Christian took over on the mound for Cheap Goats, and he retired Adam, the first batter he faced. The next batter, Josh D, singled, putting the winning run on base. Brian came to the plate and with one swing, he ended the game and extended the series. His walk-off two-run homer gave Jack Shack a 5-3 win, forcing game five to determine who would advance to the 2021 Wiffle Series.
W: Brian (2-2)
L: Christian (0-2)
Game Notes:
– Brian earned the win on the mound for Jack Shack, pitching five scoreless innings of relief, allowing only one hit.
– Christian took the loss for Cheap Goats, allowing two runs on two hits in half an inning of relief.
– Both starting pitchers earned no decisions. Adam allowed three runs on five hits in three innings, and Dinger gave up three runs on six hits in seven innings.
– Brian led Jack Shack on offense, going 2-for-5 with a single, the walk-off two-run homer to win the game, a run scored, and two RBI.
– Adam also went 2-for-5 for Jack Shack with a double, a home run, a run scored, and two RBI.
– Joey led Cheap Goats on offense, going 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, two runs scored, and an intentional walk.
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