Jason homered twice in the top of the sixth, leading Shady Characters to a big inning that put them in front for good
Jack Shack, who have been mired in roster chaos and stuck in fourth place in the EWL standings throughout the 2023 season, held a 6-4 lead over Shady Characters, the two-time defending champs and first place team, heading into the sixth inning, and were poised for an upset. But as Shady Characters have done time and again over the last several seasons, they put together one huge inning, scoring seven runs in the top of the sixth, delivering another heartbreaking defeat to their opponent. Jason homered twice in the top of the sixth, and Lucas, Nate, and Dylan homered once, as Shady Characters took a commanding lead and held on to win, extending their lead atop the season standings.
Jared took the mound for Jack Shack, and he was effective early, retiring Dylan and Nate in the top of the first.
Shady Characters’ ace Tom started, and he was also in typical form early, sending Ryan and Jon down in order in the bottom of the second.
Jared continued to pitch well in the top of the second, retiring Tom and Jason.
Tom once again matched Jared, retiring the side in order in the bottom of the second, and the game was scoreless through two innings.
Shady Characters took an early lead in the top of the third. After retiring Lucas for the first out, Jared allowed a solo homer to Dylan. Nate followed with a solo shot, and the back-to-back homers gave Shady Characters a 2-0 lead. Tom followed with a single, but Jared stranded him, retiring Jason for the second out of the inning.
Down 2-0, Jack Shack responded in the bottom of the third, taking the lead. Tom had reached his innings limit for the week, and Lucas took the mound in relief. He allowed a leadoff double to Josh, and Ryan drove him in with an RBI double that made the score 2-1. Two batters later, Jared hit a one-out two-run homer, putting Jack Shack in front 3-2. Brian tripled, and Josh drove him in with his second double of the inning, extending the Jack Shack lead to 4-2. Ryan also doubled for the second time in the inning, and Josh scored on the play, pushing Jack Shack’s lead to 5-2. Lucas retired Jon for the second out of the inning, and Shady Characters trailed by three runs.
Lucas led off the top of the fourth with a single, and he scored from first when Dylan followed with an RBI single that cut the score to 5-3. Nate then tripled, scoring Dylan, and Shady Characters were behind 5-4. The tying run was on third, but Jared stranded him, retiring Tom and Jason to end the inning.
Nate went 4-for-5 with a single, a triple, two homers, two runs scored, and five RBI in the Shady Characters comeback victory
Lucas rolled through the bottom of the fourth, retiring Jared and Brian in order.
Lucas singled to start the top of the fifth, and two batters later, he moved from first to third when Nate followed with a one-out single. Shady Characters had runners on the corners with one out, but Jared stranded both runners, retiring Tom to end the inning, and the score remained 5-4.
Jack Shack added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth when Josh led off with a solo homer. Lucas retired Ryan and Josh to end the inning, and Shady Characters trailed 6-4 heading into the sixth.
Jared had kept the explosive Shady Characters offense in check through five innings, but the wheels fell off in the sixth. Jason led off the inning with a solo homer, which cut the deficit to 6-5. Lucas and Dylan both followed with singles, and Nate not only cleared the bases but also put Shady Characters ahead with a three-run blast to right, making the score 8-6. Two batters later, Jason hit a one-out solo homer, his second bomb of the inning, and the score was 9-6. Lucas then homered, and Dylan followed with his second solo homer of the game. The back-to-back homers put Shady Characters in front 11-6. Jared finally escaped the inning by retiring Nate for the second out.
Lucas went 4-for-5 with three singles, a solo homer, three runs scored, and earned the win, pitching four innings of relief for Shady Characters
Despite leading by two runs heading into the sixth, Jack Shack trailed by five as they came to bat in the bottom half of the inning. Jared led off the inning with a single, and after retiring Brian for the first out of the inning, Lucas intentionally walked Josh to put runners on first and second with one out. Ryan followed with an RBI single, scoring Jared, and Jack Shack trailed 11-7. Jack Shack had two runners on, but the rally ended there. Lucas retired Jon for the second out of the inning, stranding both runners, and giving Shady Characters an 11-7 victory.
The win moved Shady Characters to 13-3 on the season, and the loss dropped Jack Shack to 4-12.
W: Lucas (4-3)
L: Jared (0-1)
Game Notes:
– Lucas earned the win in relief for Shady Characters, allowing seven runs on nine hits in four innings.
– Tom took a no decision for Shady Characters, starting the game with two perfect innings.
– Jared took the loss in a complete game effort for Jack Shack, giving up eleven runs on fifteen hits in six innings.
– Dylan, Nate, and Lucas each had four hits for Shady Characters. Dylan went 4-for-6 with two singles, two home runs, four runs scored, and three RBI. Nate went 4-for-6 with a single, a triple, two home runs, two runs scored, and five RBI. Lucas went 4-for-5 with three singles, a homer, three runs scored, and an RBI.
– Jason also had two homers for Shady Characters, going 2-for-5.
– Josh led Jack Shack in the loss, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, a home run, three runs scored, two RBI, and an intentional walk.
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