Party Animals and Tailgaters in nailbiter battle in Lehigh Valley
Party Animals 3(8)~Texas Tailgaters 2(7)
On Saturday, July 5, 2025, while the Bananas and Firefighters had an exciting game at Fenway, the Animals and Tailgaters said “hold my beer”. A game where when the Animals would get ahead, the Tailgaters would try to answer, until the end.
The first two innings would go scoreless even though the Animals’ Nate Tellier would allow two hits in the first inning, and with Grant Delano relieving in the second inning with two strikeouts, the pinks held the grill boys back to the goose egg. Tailgaters pitcher Christian Davis only needed to face 7 batters in those first two innings with 2 strikeouts and allowing only one hit from Tanner Thomas who just barely made it to first.
Things would start to come alive in the third inning. Grant Delano was still on the bump for the Animals. Tailgater DH Brett Carson, coming to the plate riding a unicycle would ground the ball to Delano who made a trick play throw to get Jason Swan for the first out. Jorden Hussein would then get plunked putting him on base. Two at bats later while Nick Lopez was up, Hussein will attempt to steal second but an overthrow would send him to third. During the same at bat, a pass ball would allow Hussein to steal home giving the Tailgaters the first run. The frame would end with catcher Taj Porter grounding into a Bryson Bloomer trick play to Jason Swan for the force. In the bottom of the third, Dustin Baber sends one to the center field wall for a double. Mark Smith would be brought in to run. The next batter, DH Armando Becerra sent another one to the wall bringing home Smith to tie the inning. Noah Fisher would then send a grounder to right field to bring in Bacerra and the Animals win the inning.
In the top of the fourth, Mac Danford would fly into another Bryson Bloomer trick play and then Brett Carson would pop to left just to lead to a glorious Noah Fisher off the glove and into the shirt trick play. Despite being down 2, the Gaters would open up, first with an Indy Stanley double to center field followed up by a Travis Moniot single, which brought Stanley in for the run. Center fielder Marcus Castillo would then pop to left and another Fisher trick play, but the damage was done. The Tailgaters would bring in pitcher Andrew Mann and two strikeouts and a Jonathan Luders trick play later, the Animals could not answer. The Tailgaters win the point and level the game.
The fifth inning would bring reliever Brady Kais in for the Animals. He would first pitch a ball four sprint to Jonathan Luders to get things going for the Tailgaters. A Jorden Hussein single would put runners on the corners. 2 at bats later saw Taj Porter with a 2 RBI single scoring Hussein and Lopez. With 3 runs, there was only 1 out. During Mac Danford’s at bat, Porter’s designated runner Nelson Smith was caught stealing second. Danford would swing his way into a K, but the damage was done. 3 runs for the Tailgaters.
Bottom of the fifth with Andrew Mann still on the bump, after Bloomer was caught looking, Dustin Baber would single to shallow center field. Mark Smith was put in to run. Armando Becerra would then send one over the tall right field wall with a two run jack, but it is not over. Sal Jacobo and Reece Hampton would single and double respectively. With runners in scoring position and two out, Jake Skole puts one over the head of Jonathan Luders bringing in Jacobo and Hampton and the Party Animals win the inning 4 to 3 and they are 2 points to 1.
In the top of the 6th with Stanley and Moniot on the corners, Taylor Justiss, in for Jonathan Luders hits a 2 RBI double to the left field wall giving the Texas boys two runs. In the bottom of the 6th, Mark Smith pinch running for Andy Cosgrove would score on a Tanner Thomas ball four sprint. With two outs, Dustin Baber would fly to right field. Thomas tags up and the ball beats him to home plate. The outcome of a fan challenge would confirm the call on the field. This gives the Tailgaters a 2-1 win on the inning and the points are now tied at 2.
We move to the 8th inning where the Tailgaters with already two out try to get things going with an Indy Stanley stolen first base on a Taylor Justiss pass ball, but it would not be enough. Bottom of the 8th and Jason Swan would single bringing the inning winning run to first base. With Bryson Bloomer up, Brett Carson throws a wild pitch. Taj Porter can’t find the ball resulting in a double steal moving Swan to third. A ball four sprint would bring Swan in and the Animals would win the inning and is up 3 points to 2.
In the 9th inning with closer Drew Gillespie on the mound, the Tailgaters bring up Nick Lopez as their golden batter. Lopez would steal both first and second on a pass ball, putting the tying run 180 feet away. With two outs, Zach Watson would strike out swinging to end the game.
Final score: Party Animals 3(8) ~ Texas Tailgaters 2(7).
Both series continued on Sunday with the same teams at the same stadiums. We will update later with those details.
Michi-chan Sports game stats
Unofficial statistics - accuracy not guaranteed. Please inform us of any corrections.
How Michi-chan Sports scores Banana Ball games