Perfect at the Plate: Sam and Duran Power Storm Offense

The Espos started strong with three runs in the top of the 1st inning. It could have been worse, but Storm was able to turn a double play to get out of the inning without  too much damage. Storm then exploded on offense, putting up a max 6 sending 10 batters to the plate.

The Expos chipped away at the lead with one more in the second, but Storm would extend the lead with four more in the bottom half of the inning powered by a massive home run by Duran that was nearly killed by the wind but scraped over the fence. Good job because Duran was doing his best Vladdy impersonation. Not running thinking he had gotten all of it. 

The Expos managed one more in the top of the 3rd, but Storm kept adding insurance runs getting three more runs, two of which came off an opposite field home run by Sam. Speaking of insurance and opposite field hits, Joey may be getting contacted for an insurance claim as an opposite field foul ball off his bat made a resounding crash off a car in the parking lot, followed by alarms and sirens and various sundry other noises. 

The Expos would not be able to manage another run through the final four innings. Storm added some more and won 17-5.

Top Offensive Performers

Sam  — Led the team with 4 RBIs while going a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate. He unlocked a massive 3.000 OPS by crushing a home run and a double.

Duran — Scored a team-high 4 runs and drove in 3 RBIs. He posted a flawless 1.000 batting average (3-for-3), highlighted by a home run to finish with a 2.750 OPS.

Tony — Set a perfect baseline for the offense by going 3-for-3 with a double, crossing the plate for 2 runs and driving in 1 RBI to finish with a 2.250 OPS.

Lance — Kept the offense moving efficiently by going 2-for-3 with a double, generating 3 runs scored and 2 RBIs (1.750 OPS).

Brad  — Delivered a highly productive 3-for-4 game at the plate, driving in 2 RBIs and scoring 1 run (1.500 OPS).

Line Score

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R
Expos	3	1	1	0	0	0	0	5
Storm	6	4	3	1	1	4	X	19

Storm Tracker: Six-Run Explosions in 3rd and 4th Innings Blow Out Broadway 16-5

Storm played a solid game on both sides of the ball against Broadway. The bats were singing and the defenders danced confidently around the field making for a victory that was never really in doubt.

The game started a little slowly. Rene held Broadway to only 1 run in the first two innings, and Storm managed only 2 in the first before dropping a goose egg in the second after three consecutive fielder’s choices stalled the inning. It is questionable why Sam did not attempt to score from third on either of the first two fielder’s choices, but he didn’t and Storm squandered a pair of hits to start the inning.

Jeff came in in the third and fourth and turned Broadway into James Bond. They were a 00 for the two innings. These innings are where Storm took control of the game. They put up max 6s in each inning powered predominantly by a bunch of singles. 

Storm took such a big control of the game that Joey decided he wanted to pitch. He pitched fine, but a miscue by his replacement shortstop (who got chirped by his daughter from the bench) opened the door for Broadway to put up a 4 spot and get sort of kind of maybe back in the game. 

But Rene would return to the mound and shit down Broadway through the final frames and Storm added a couple of insurance runs to win 16-5.

Top Offensive Performers

1. Tony (OPS: 2.250)

• The Standout: He was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 with 1 double and 3 runs scored. Because he reached base every single time without a walk, he recorded a perfect 1.000 AVG and 1.000 OBP.

2. Joey (OPS: 1.750)

• The Run Producer: He was the team's primary run producer for the game, driving in a team-high 4 RBIs. He went 3-for-3 at the plate, scored 2 runs, and executed 1 sacrifice fly.

3. Bob (OPS: 1.750)

• The Extra-Base Threat: He had an highly efficient game, going 2-for-3 with 1 double, 3 RBIs, and 2 runs scored, making him tied for the second-highest OPS on the team.

4. Brad (OPS: 1.500)

• The Base Hit Machine: He delivered excellent contact consistency, going 3-for-4 with 3 singles and driving in 2 RBIs.

5. Rene (OPS: 1.417)

• The On-Base Catalyst: He showed great discipline by drawing the team's only walk (BB), finishing the day 2-for-3 with 3 runs scored and 1 RBI while posting a strong 0.750 OBP.

 

Line Score

                                   1 2 3 4 5 6 7       R

Broadway      1 0 0 0 4 0 0       5 

Storm            2 0 6 6 0 2 X      16

From Slump to Surge: Storm Shakes Off Two-Week Rust Just in Time for Final-Inning Fireworks

 Storm struggled early at the plate. And when we say early, we mean for the first six innings. In six innings Storm only went through the batting order twice and scored only two runs which both came off an unlikely two run homer from Jeff. Surge’s pitching and defense was spectacular through six and Storm was in trouble.

Thankfully, Storm also had great pitching and defense. Brad was doing his best Brooks Robinson impression at third base making a couple of really nice plays, including a third to first double play, and the outfield was a Bermuda triangle where most balls went to die. Rene was solid as the opener allowing four runs (but it should have been just one), and Jeff came in an only allowed two runs from the 3rd to the 6th innings. One defensive miscue while Rene was pitching, and one bad pitch from Jeff meant Storm was trailing 6-2 going into the 7th.

Storm finally had a power surge in the 7th. Whether it was shaking off the dust that had accumulated on their bats over a two week weather induced break, or they finally figured Mike out, but Storm stormed back sending 15 runners to the plate and scoring 9 runs off helped out by Duran’s two run homer.

It wasn’t quite over yet. Surge had a chance for a bottom of the 7th rally. They got two runners on and it looked like they were about to mount a comeback, but Storm slammed the door shut and managed to hold on to the 11-6 win. At the handshake the umpire congratulated them for their good inning.

Statisticians studied the standings after the game, and it is believed that Storm has now clinched 2nd place with 27 wins, although Storm would like to win out and get to 30. The Falcons have noted that Surge seems to be better than their record, and this game would tend to prove the point. As the standings currently sit, Storm and Surge would be set up for a rematch in the playoffs. Although there is room for change in the bottom of the standings, there is starting to be some separation and things are getting clearer. Four days of games remain and many meaningful games will be played for a lot of teams.

Game Highlights

• Offensive Power: Jeff and Duran each had a 2 run, home run,.
• Defensive Spotlight: Brad made 3 great plays at 3B including a double play
• On-Base Machine: Mills set the table perfectly at the top of the lineup, reaching base 3 times (2 hits, 1 walk) for a .750 OBP.
• Team Effort: The team wasn't firing on all pistons and combined for a .462 batting average with only 18 total hits (13 singles, 3 doubles, 2 home runs).

Game Line Score

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R
Storm	0	2	0	0	0	0	9	11
Sunbelt Surge	4	0	0	0	2	0	0	6