Tom and Jason had a pair of homers in the game, they both homered in the dramatic bottom of the sixth Shady Characters’ rally, and Tom’s two-run walk-off homer won the game
For the third consecutive week, Shady Characters and Cheap Goats went blow-for-blow until one of the teams pulled away in the final inning in thrilling fashion. Cheap Goats prevailed in the first two matchups, but Shady Characters overcame four Miller home runs and reversed the trend in week 5. Trailing 10-7 heading into the bottom of the sixth, Jason and Tom each hit two-run homers, with Tom’s homer serving as a walk-off, giving his squad a dramatic win and avenging the previous defeats. Both players registered four hits with a pair of two-run homers, and Shady Characters extended their grip on first place in the EWL standings.
Tom started on the mound, and the first batter he faced, Joey, hit a leadoff solo homer, putting Cheap Goats ahead 1-0. Tom retired the next two batters, Miller and Christian, to end the inning.
Shady Characters took the lead back immediately in the bottom of the first. Cheap Goats’ starter, Christian, retired Nate before allowing a one-out single to Tom. The next batter, Jason, hit a two-run bomb to right, putting Shady Characters in front 2-1. Tom then retired Head, rounding out a deficient Shady Characters lineup, to end the inning.
Cheap Goats swung back in the top of the second. Dinger led off the inning with a solo homer, tying the game at 2-2. Joey doubled, and Miller drove him in with a two-run blast, giving Cheap Goats a 4-2 lead. Tom retired Christian and Dinger to end the inning, and Cheap Goats led by two runs.
Shady Characters overcame Miller’s career game, as he went 5-for-6 with a single, four consecutive home runs, four runs scored, and six RBI in the Cheap Goats loss
Nate the bottom of the second with a single, and Tom followed with a two-run homer, tying the game at 4-4. Jason singled, but when Head flew out to center for the first out of the inning, Cheap Goats caught Jason between bases for the second out, ending the inning.
Head came to the mound from the bullpen in the top of the third, and he retired Joey to start the inning. Miller followed with his second homer of the game, and Cheap Goats led 5-4. Tom then retired Christian to end the inning.
Nate flew out to the mound for the first out in the bottom of the third, and Christian struck out Tom to end the inning.
Shady Characters made another pitching change in the top of the fourth, bringing Jason to the mound, and Cheap Goats extended their lead. Joey hit a one-out double, and Miller hit his third consecutive homer, a two-run shot, giving Cheap Goats a 7-4 lead. Tom then retired Christian to end the inning, and Shady Characters trailed by three runs.
Jason doubled to start the bottom of the fourth, and Head followed with a single, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Nate cleared the bases with a three-run homer to center, tying the score at 7-7. Christian then retired Tom and Jason to end the inning.
Nate went 3-for-6 with two singles, a three-run homer, three runs scored, and three RBI for Shady Characters
Cheap Goats kept scratching in the top of the fifth. Dinger led off with a double, and Joey followed with his second homer of the game, a two-run bomb that put Cheap Goats back in front 9-7. Miller then hit his fourth homer in as many at-bats, setting a single-game career high and extending the Cheap Goats lead to 10-7. Jason then retired Christian and Dinger to end the inning, and Cheap Goats once again led by three runs.
Head led off the bottom of the fifth with a single, but when Nate flew out to right for the first out, Shady Characters were once again doubled up by Cheap Goats, ending the inning.
Joey doubled to start the top of the sixth but when Miller flew out to right, Shady Characters pulled a double play of their own, catching Joey in between bases to end the inning.
Joey went 5-for-6 in the Cheap Goats loss with three doubles, two home runs, four runs scored, and three RBI.
Shady Characters had lost the previous two matchups with Cheap Goats in the final inning, and heading into the bottom of the sixth, they were down three runs. Christian remained in the game to close things out for Cheap Goats, and he gave up a single to Tom to start the inning. Jason followed with a two-run homer, his second of the game, cutting the deficit to 10-9. Christian then retired Head, and Cheap Goats were one out away from their third consecutive narrow win over Shady Characters. Down to their last out, Nate singled, putting the tying runner on base and the winning run at the plate. Tom came to the plate looking to continue his recent stretch of clutch performances, and he delivered. He launched a two-run homer to deep right-center, winning the game for Shady Characters 11-10.
The win moved Shady Characters to 6-2 on the season, and the loss dropped Cheap Goats to 3-4.
W: Jason (1-0)
L: Christian (2-1)
Game Notes:
– Jason earned the win in relief for Shady Characters, allowing five runs on six hits in three innings.
– Tom started the game and got a no-decision for Shady Characters, allowing four runs on four hits in two innings.
– Head also pitched one inning of relief for Shady Characters, giving up one run on one hit.
– Christian took the loss for Cheap Goats in a complete game effort, giving up eleven runs on thirteen hits and striking out one.
– Tom’s walk-off homer won the game for Shady Characters, his second walk-off homer of the 2023 season. He went 4-for-6 with two singles, two home runs, four runs scored, and four RBI.
– Jason also had four hits for Shady Characters, going 4-for-5 with a single, a double, two home runs, three runs scored, and four RBI.
– Miller went 5-for-6 for Cheap Goats with a single, four home runs, four runs scored, and six RBI.
– Joey also went 5-for-6 in the Cheap Goats loss with three doubles, two home runs, four runs scored, and three RBI.
