both logos by @20_range
For the first time ever, the Philosophers make the trip to Sheffield. They're coming into the series 8-13, the kind of record which is to be expected from an expansion team in its first season.
Game 1
SP - Alois Herzog
The series didn’t start as we’d hoped, with Chamkanni smashing a home run straight into the kids’ treehouses behind centre-field in the third inning, one of three runs given up by Alois Herzog in his 6 innings. Home runs from Perez and Rutz, the team’s RBI and Home run leaders respectively weren't enough to make up the deficit. The final score was 5-4.
Player of the game: Lebna Ogunkeye (Athens Philosophers)
Game 2
SP - Yushua bin Saqr
Hares’ batting just about put enough runs on the table to capitalise on a superb outing from bin Saqr, who let up just 1 run in 6.1 innings, racking up eight strikeouts while giving up no walks, he now sits on a very respectable 2.86 ERA. Keohler made sure the Hares limped over the line, with a run-scoring double in the sixth (his first double of the season), painting the eventual final score of 2-1 on the scoreboard.
Player of the game: Yushua bin Saqr
Game 3
SP - Mototomi Motoyanagi
Sheffield got themselves back to .500 with a 4-2 win over the Philosophers to take the first ever series between the teams. It was another fine pitcher’s outing that won it for the Hares, this time from Mototomi Motoyanagi, giving up only one run on four hits. Evan Shepard continued his fine form as a closer, notching up his fifth save, working around two walks in the final inning. Pitching counts for nothing if no one hits though right? Fortunately the struggling Abdul-Karim bin Jameel pulled out one of his better performances this season, batting in two runs, including a run in the bottom of the three-run fourth inning, as the Hares went on to win 4-2.
Player of the game: Mototomi Motoyanagi
Next up, we’re taking on the Madrid Mallards, who are a few wins ahead of us in the standings.