Jason had a historic performance for Shady Characters in their 12-8 win over Jack Shack, tying the single-game record for home runs with five
Jason homered in his first five at-bats against Jack Shack, tying the single-game record for home runs in a game and driving in seven runs as Shady Characters stormed past Jack Shack 12-8. He became the first player to hit five homers in a single game since 2018, and had a chance at a sixth homer in his final at-bat. Tom also went 4-for-6 with two homers and pitched the complete game win as Shady Characters went up by nine runs early and held off a late Jack Shack rally to remain in first place in the EWL standings.
Tom got off to a good start in the top of the first, retiring Ryan and Josh in order.
Josh took the mound for Jack Shack, and he fell behind early. Nate doubled to start the bottom of the first, and Tom followed with a two-run shot to right-center, giving Shady Characters a 2-0 lead. Jason followed with his first round-tripper of the game, and the back-to-back jacks put Shady Characters up 3-0. Pete Gzinya, filling in for a depleted Shady Characters roster, singled, but Josh stranded him, retiring Nate and Tom to end the inning.
Shady Characters celebrate at the plate after one of Tom’s two homers
Jack Shack bounced back in the top of the second, tying the game. Jon led off with a solo homer, cutting the score to 3-1. Brian tripled, and he scored when Ryan grounded out to center for the first out of the inning, making the score 3-2. Josh followed with a solo homer, and the game was tied at 3-3. Tom then retired Jon to end the inning, and Jack Shack had pulled even.
Jon went 3-for-6 in the Jack Shack loss, collecting two doubles, a solo homer, three runs scored, and an RBI.
Shady Characters immediately reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the second. Jason led off the inning with his second consecutive solo homer, and Shady Characters led 4-3. Two batters later, Nate hit a one-out triple, and Tom drove him in with an RBI double, making the score 5-3. Jason homered for the second time in the inning and third time in the game, and his two-run blast put Shady Characters in front 7-3. John retired Pete to end the inning, and Jack Shack trailed by four.
Brian doubled to lead off the top of the third, but Tom stranded him, retiring Ryan and Josh to end the inning.
Shady Characters extended their lead in the bottom of the third. Tom singled with one out, and Jason homered for the fourth straight at-bat. The two-run homer pushed the Shady Characters lead to 9-3. Josh then retired Pete to end the inning.
Tom cruised through the top of the fourth, retiring Jon and Brian in order.
Josh matched Tom in the bottom of the fourth, retiring Nate and Tom consecutively, and the score remained 9-3.
Tom pitched another perfect frame in the top of the fifth, retiring Ryan and Josh.
Jason led off the bottom of the fifth with a chance to tie the single-game record for home runs, and he launched a fly well beyond the right-field fence. The record-tying blast made the score 10-3, and Jason joined Bob, Blose, Joey, and Ivan in the record book. Two batters later, Nate hit a solo homer, and Shady Characters led 11-3. Tom followed with his second homer of the game, and Shady Characters had taken a 12-3 lead. Jason came to the plate for his sixth at-bat of the game with a chance to set the single-game record for homers with six. Tom (Kimble) had his six in a playoff game, but no EWL player had ever hit six homers in a regular season game. The entire league looked on intently, but Jason flew out to the mound, ending the inning. He came up short on setting a new record, but his historic performance etched his name into the EWL record book.
Nate had three extra-base hits in the Shady Characters win, going 3-for-6 with a double, a triple, three runs scored, and an RBI.
Jack Shack entered the top of the sixth down nine runs, but they showed heart. Tom remained on the mound to close things out, and he allowed a leadoff double to Jon, the first batter of the inning. Brian followed with a double, scoring Jon, cutting the deficit to 12-4. Ryan then hit a two-run shot, and Jack Shack had narrowed the Shady Characters lead to 12-6. Josh singled, and Jon followed with a double, putting runners on second and third with no outs. Brian doubled, scoring Josh, and the score was 12-7. Ryan then doubled, scoring Josh, and Jack Shack had cut the lead from 12-3 to 12-8 without recording an out. Just when it looked like Jack Shack may upset Jason’s historic day, Tom buckled down. He retired Josh and Jon to strand Ryan at second, ending the inning and the game, giving Shady Characters the 12-8 victory.
The win moved Shady Characters to 5-2 on the season, and the loss dropped Jack Shack to 2-5.
W: Tom (3-0)
L: Josh (2-2)
Game Notes:
– Tom pitched the complete game win for Shady Characters, allowing eight runs on eleven hits.
– Josh took the loss in a complete game effort for Jack Shack, giving up twelve runs on thirteen hits.
– Jason’s record-tying performance led Shady Characters to victory. In total, he went 5-for-6 with five home runs in his first five at-bats and drove in seven runs.
– Tom also went 4-for-6 for Shady Characters with a single, a double, two home runs, four runs scored, and four RBI.
– Brian led Jack Shack on offense in the loss, going 4-for-5 with three doubles, a triple, two runs scored, and two RBI.
– The other players to hit five home runs in a regular season game include Bob (2018), Bob (2015), Blose (2014), Joey (2014), and Ivan (2012).
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