Week 3: 'Topes tattoo Grays, Wonders wallop Phils, Plug Uglies upend Goats

Greg Elbaum of the Plug Uglies on the mound Thursday vs. the Fainting Goats. Elbaum pitched a complete game to record a 5-4 win. Photo courtesy of Jeff Whitehead.

Plug Uglies 5
Fainting Goats 4

WP: Greg Elbaum, LP: Eddie Esposito

In the game of the week, the Goats carried a 4-1 lead through 6 full innings on the dominant pitching of Mike O'Donnell, who gave up 1 run in the first and then shut down the league champs over the next 5 innings.

Unfortunately for the Goats, games are 7 innings long, and the Plugs plated 4 in their final at-bat to make like Lazurus and come back from the dead.

The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Plug-ville nine -- err, 13 -- to start the top of the 7th. O'Donnell had held them in check all night, but by the final inning he was running on fumes.

Chris "Chaka" Scanlon led off with a single down the 3rd base line, and Elbaum walked. Steve Wall hit a comebacker to the mound but a botched throw to second loaded the bases. Bill Evans greeted reliever Eddie Esposito with a single to plate Scanlon and Elbaum. Matt Boulanger battled through a tough at-bat before singling to drive in Wall to tie the score.

After a sacrifice moved the runners to second and third, Brian "Benji" Benjamin lined a two-out single to drive in Evans and give the Uglies the lead.

The Goats had their chance in their final at bat. Paddy Johnson led off with a single and moved up to second on a sacrifice by Jim McLaren. But there he would stay as the next two batters grounded out. Evans made a nice place on a sharply hit grounder to short for the second out.

Lost in the drama of the comeback was the work of Elbaum on the mound. A complete game, 3Ks, 2 walks, and no runs allowed after a rocky first inning that saw the Goats plate 4.

Don't look now but the defending champion Plug Uglies are 3-0.

Wonders 12
Phillies 7

WP: Nabil Hannoush, Sv: Chris Ciepiela, LP: Max Strubel

The Ageless Wonders™scored 4 in the top of the 7th to break open what had been a tight game as they defeated the Phillies 12-7 at Anniversary Field in Holyoke.

Scott Taylor landed the sockdologizing blow with a bases loaded triple to right center to plate 3.

The 7th inning heroics by the Wonders came in response to the Phillies scoring 3 in the bottom of the 6th to narrow it to a one-run game.

The win gives the Wonders their first victory of the year, while the Phils are saddled with their third loss.

For the Phils, Al Harchik went 3 for 3 with 3 RBI, while Andy Klepacki had 2 hits.

Isotopes 15
Dorian Grays 2

It was Isotopes early and often in a rout over the Grays at School Street Park in Agawam.

Gary Webber pitched his 3rd complete game victory of the season as the Isotopes went to 3-0 on the year. He gave up 2 earned runs and 6 hits while striking out 2.

Shawn Wrisley had 3 RBI, while Dave Warner was the DraftKings star of the night with 3 hits, 2 walks and 3 RBI.

The Isotopes were aided defensively by Lundy Bancroft in center and Rob Turgeon in left.