Tom displays two thumbs up for two walk-off homers. Hours after he won game one with a walk-off homer, he did it again in game two.
For the second consecutive game Guacamol-yay outplayed Shady Characters, and for the second consecutive game, Shady Characters hung around just long enough for Tom to come to the plate with the game on the line. After ending game one with a dramatic three-run walk-off homer, Tom did it again, hitting a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth to walk Shady Characters off with a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five first round series. Tom became the second player in league history to hit walk-off home runs in back-to-back playoff games, putting his squad a win away from clinching a Wiffle Series berth.
Tom started for Shady Characters with only one inning of eligibility left for the week, and he made the most of it. After allowing a one-out single to Jude, he stranded him, retiring Josh K to end the inning.
Mike makes a difficult catch for an out in deep center field
Josh K started on the mound for Guacamol-yay, and after only getting five hits off of him in six-plus innings of game one, their first four batters reached base safely in game two. Dylan led off with a double, but when Mike followed with a single, Dylan was thrown out trying to score at home. Tom followed with a single, scoring Mike from first, and Shady Characters led 1-0. Jason then doubled, putting two runners in scoring position with no outs. Josh K avoided further damage though, retiring Lucas to strand both runners, ending the inning.
Guacamol-yay evened up the score in the top of the second. Sean led off with a double, and two batters later, Kyle hit an RBI triple to tie the game at 1-1. Lucas, who had relieved Tom on the mound, retired Jude to strand Kyle at third, ending the inning.
Shady Characters pulled back in front in the bottom of the second when Mike hit a one-out solo homer to right, making the score 2-1. Tom followed with a single, but Josh K stranded him, retiring Jason to end the inning.
Mike rounds third after his solo homer in the second inning
Lucas retired the side in order in the top of the third, sending Josh K and Sean down consecutively.
Josh K had reached his innings limit, and Jude came to the mound in the bottom of the third. He retired Lucas and struck out Dylan, as the score remained 2-1.
Jan doubled to lead off the top of the fourth, putting the tying run in scoring position. Lucas escaped the inning, however, retiring Kyle and Jude to strand Jan at second, ending the inning.
Jan went 2-for-3 with two doubles for Guacamol-yay
Shady Characters extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth. Mike led off with a single, and two batters later, Jason hit a one-out double to score Mike. Jason was caught out trying to extend the hit into a triple, ending the inning, but Shady Characters now led 3-1.
Josh K singled to start the top of the fifth, but when Sean lined out to center for the first out of the inning, Josh K was doubled up at first, ending the inning.
Jude retired the side in order in the bottom of the fifth, and Guacamol-yay trailed 3-1 heading into their final at-bat.
Jan doubled to lead off the top of the sixth, putting the tying run at the plate. Kyle launched a two-run bomb to right-center, tying the game at 3-3. Lucas then retired Jude and Josh K to end the inning.
Kyle’s dramatic two-run homer in the top of the sixth tied the game at 3-3
Jude retired Mike for the first out in the bottom of the sixth, and Guacamol-yay was one out from sending the second consecutive game of the series to extra innings, but Tom had other ideas. With the game tied at 3-3, he hit a solo shot to right-center, and his walk-off homer gave Shady Characters a 4-3 win in game two.
Shady Characters celebrate at the plate as Tom wins game two with a solo walk-off homer in the bottom of the sixth
The win gave Shady Characters a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series with Guacamol-yay, one win away from advancing to the Wiffle Series for the first time since 2019.
W: Lucas (1-0)
L: Jude (0-1)
Game Notes:
– Lucas picked up the win for Shady Characters, allowing three runs on six hits in five innings of relief.
– Jude took the loss for Guacamol-yay, giving up two runs on three hits and striking out one in three-and-a-half innings of relief
– Tom took a no-decision for Shady Characters, allowing no runs on one hit in one inning.
– Josh K got a no-decision for Guacamol-yay, giving up two runs on six hits in two innings.
– Tom led Shady Characters in the victory, going 3-for-4 with two singles, two RBI and the walk-off homer to win the game. Tom became the third player in EWL history with two playoff walk-off home runs, joining Vassallo and Nate. Tom and Nate each hit walk-off homers in back-to-back games in the first round of the playoffs.
– Mike also went 3-for-4 with two singles and a homer, and he scored three of the four Shady Characters runs.
– Kyle and Jan led Guacamol-yay in the game two loss. Kyle went 2-for-4 with a triple, a homer, a run scored, and three RBI. Jan went 2-for-3 with two doubles and a run scored.
