Storm Splits with Broadway

Game 1 - In which Duran shows up late because he was too busy finishing his honeymoon/got the time of the game wrong and the final batter strikes out looking at three straight pitches with the tying run on third base.

Storm settled in for a double-bill in the midst of a Broadway revival. Broadway had won three in a row, and were looking to dance over Storm and keep their hopes for second place alive. In the opening act, Storm was able to score two and keep Broadway off the scoresheet. Storm exploded in the second for five runs, but Broadway responded with five, keeping the tension high. Broadway outscored Storm 2-1  and 3-2 in the next two innings, and as the curtain fell on the fourth frame, the score was an even 10-10.

As the curtain rose again on the open innings, Storm started strong putting up five runs including Joey’s second home run of the game. Broadway only scored two, and Storm had some breathing room. But Storm’s bats cooled off in the sixth, scoring only one, and Broadway hit some high notes to the tune of four runs, and tied the game. Storm squeaked one run across and took a one run lead into the final frame.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Fagan (thanks for putting names on your jerseys) smacked one to the fence, and much like the little orphan he mentored, he was in the “please, sir may I have some more” mood, and stretched it for a triple. This put the tying run on third base with only one out. Storm was having a discussion at this point about whether to play for the tie or the win because of the standings and the ramifications of each. Half the outfield came way in, playing only as deep as they could throw home, and the other half played regular depth trying to keep the go ahead run from advancing. The batter hit a short pop fly to right, which might have dropped in had Duran not been playing so shallow. Duran caught the ball and then threw a bullet to home, keeping Fagan from stealing the tie. Storm wasn’t out of the woods yet. Broadway had their number three batter up with the tying run on third. Al decided he was going to lock down the game in true closer fashion. He struck the batter out on three straight pitches. The batter inexplicably did not swing at any of them, and after some tension, Storm held on to win the first game of the double-header.

Notable Boxscores:

Joey - 5 for 5, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4 runs

Lance - 5 for 5, 2 RBI

Al - 3 for 4, 3 runs, RBI

Cycle Watch: Joey missed the single, but got two home runs. He also walked in his last at bat when he needed a single to complete the cycle.

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Storm	2	5	1	2	5	1	1	17
Broadway	0	5	2	3	2	4	0	16

Game 2 - In which Storm essentially forgets how to hit in the final three innings

After a brief intermission, the curtain rose on the second performance of the double-bill.

Broadway bashed two home runs and took a 4 run lead.  Bob had decided he didn’t want to lead off this game, so Jeff stepped up and squeaked a ball past short and legged it out for a double. Duran then knocked a two run shot. Storm would add another to trail 4-3 after 1. 

Storm held Broadway to one run in the second, and then scored three for the second inning in a row, powered by a Duran two-run shot for the second inning in a row. In the third, Broadway scored three and Storm had a lot of patience at the plate, walking three times and scoring three times to take a 9-8 lead.

Broadway scored three again, and then Storm exploded. With thunder rattling in the distance, Storm bats started to thunder as well. Some patience (three consecutive walks) followed by power (a grand slam by Lance, and a solo shot by Bob), helped Storm score the max six and take a 15-11 lead.

Then came the open innings, where the score would skyrocket. Except it didn’t. Storm essentially forgot how to hit. In the final three innings, Storm would score one run total on five hits. Broadway managed to score eight runs across the final three innings, and ended up winning 19-16.

Notable Boxscores:

Duran 2 for 3, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 runs

Lance - 3 for 3, grand slam, 5 RBI

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Broadway	4	1	3	3	5	0	3	19
Storm	3	3	3	6	0	1	0	16