Week 5: Last-place Goats morph into the GOATs; Will the Dorian Grays ever lose ... or win again?

Wednesday

Fainting Goats 13, Wonderboys 7
WP: Ed Webb, Sv: Mike O'Donnell
LP: Chris Ciepiela

The winless Goats transformed themselves into the G.O.A.T.s with a 13-7 win over the league champion Ageless Wonders™.  Hyperbolic? Maybe. But for the Goats, the win is their first of the season, which means it's their first ever.
Ed Webb survived a rocky first to settle down and throw 5 strong innings. Mike O'Donnell came on in relief to pitch 2 scoreless innings and close it out.
The Goats broke out to a 2-0 lead - the first lead in franchise history! - in the first, and then promptly coughed it up in the bottom of the inning. The Wonders put up a 5-spot, beginning the inning with a walk and 4 straight singles.
In the top of the 2nd, the Goats responded with 7 runs with Todd Neumann hitting a bases-loaded triple for the sockdologizing blow.
"The book was generous in giving the Wonders only 5 errors," said Wonders manager Larry Pietras. "But the Fainting Goats slugged plenty to capitalize, especially in their big 7 run second inning. They were never headed* the rest of the way."
Neumann (2b, 3b, BB, E) and Steve Neic (1b, 1b, E, E,) each reached base 4 times, while Webb was 3-4 (2 1b, 2b) and 2 runs scored. Tom Sebastyn was 2-4 with 3 runs scored.

*Headed - "A racing term: meaning you led the rest of the way after the second inning. Never headed applies to standardbreds, greyhounds, steeplechase horses, and thoroughbreds who take the lead and are never passed up before the finish line." -- Larry Pietras

Thursday

Grays 9, Phils 9

The Grays remain the only undefeated team this year, with a 1-0 record. What their record doesn't show is that in their 4 games so far, 3 of them are suspended on account of darkness. 

Consider:

• Week 1 v. the Wonders was suspended after 2 innings because of a late start. 
• In week 4, they got off the deck to tie the Plugs late and force a 5-5 tie after 8.
• And now this.

Each of the suspended games will be completed at later dates. 

Whatevs, Grays. Just keep saying it doesn't matter if you win or lose; it's how you play the game.

In Thursday's action, the Grays scored 3 runs on 4 hits and an error in the top of the 1st, and the Phillies countered with 2 runs in the bottom of the inning, featuring a long double by Doug Stowers. In the 3rd, both teams exchanged solo runs. The Grays scored an unearned run on 2 errors, and the Phillies also scored an unearned run to make the score 4-3 Grays.

In the 5th, the Phillies scored 5 runs to take an 8-4 lead thanks to 2 walks, 2 hits, and 3 Grays miscues, chasing starter Mike "Knuckles" Whately. The Grays scratched back in the 6th with 2 runs off Miracle Max Strubel to make it an 8-6 game.

In the 7th, starter Max Strubel gave way to Ron Totten with the Phils clinging to an 8-6 lead. The Grays scored a quick 3 runs on two hits, a sac fly and 3 errors by the Phils to go up 9-8.

In the bottom of the 7th with the sun getting low, Jon Ross led off with a single off Jay Sadowski. He then stole second and Andy Klepacki singled to tie the score. After that, the game was suspended and, as Strubel put it "damp darkness was the only winner."

The Grays and Phils will conclude this game (hopefully) the next time they meet on June 27.

Standings

This business with the Grays is, of course, playing havoc on the standings. Depending on the outcome of their 3 suspended games, they could find themselves in first place or last place. Those are the breaks. The Wonders loss and the Goats win means the standings are all bunched up again - just like last year. A lot of season left, mis amigos. 

Next week

Wednesday's game: Goats @ Grays
Thursday's game: Plugs @ Wonders.
Off week: Phillies.

Game photos (hat tip to Stu Clark of the Grays)

Stu Clark photo

Stu Clark photo

Stu Clark photo

Stu Clark photo

Stu Clark photo

Stu Clark photo

Stu Clark photo

Stu Clark photo

Stu Clark photo

Stu Clark photo