Flyers 14, Challengers 6

Thomas Landis was not his dominant self as the Flyers collected six runs on five hits and five base-on-balls against him. He gave up at least one walk in every inning he pitched and was yanked by coach Marvin Moore when his pitch count got near 100.

Thomas Landis lasted just 3.2 innings, giving up five earned runs on five hits and five walks.

The Flyers quickly loaded the bases in the first inning on a double by Reto Siegel and base-on-balls to Roy Allenspach and Fernando Abril. Third baseman Mathis then hit a triple into left field to give the Flyers a 3-0 edge after the first.

They scored one more unearned run in the second before the Challengers got on the board with an RBI-single by Fabian Monn that scored Roger Brunner, who earlier reached on an error by shortstop Mark Decker. The Flyers erased that run by scoring once again in the bottom of the third on a base-on-balls and two singles.

Landis (0-1) got the first two batters of the fourth inning but the third reached on a base-on-balls. That brought in Chris Palatinus who first faced Fernando Abril and threw him four straight balls. He threw two more balls to Mathis and was then replaced by Gary Kochlefl who completed the walk to Mathis by throwing two more balls to fill the bases. Alain Kurz then capped the inning by lifting the first pitch over the center field fence for his first grandslam home run of the season.

Kochlefl was able to get the last out of the inning, but then was replaced by Roger Brunner in the fifth. He promptly walked the first three batters but managed to struck out Roy Allenspach with the bases loaded. Seppi Zwyer grounded out to short, but not before two runs scored that put the Flyers up 11-1.

The Challengers manufactured two runs in the top of the sixth as Landis hit a two-run single that scored Nicki Lehmann and Saentis Zeller.

The Flyers came back with three runs on their own in their half of the sixth as Benny Räber was used to pitch the last inning.

The Challengers put together another rally in the seventh against reliever Chris Klee. Bryan Shemley singled to lead off the inning. but the next two batters, Giorgio Szentgyörgyi and Yves Huber went out. Chris Palatinus followed with a bunt single to score Shemley. Gary Kochlefl then hit a triple into left field and scored on Nicki Lehmann's double. Zeller ended the game by poping out to the left fielder.

Both teams collected eight hits apiece, but Challengers pitching gave up 10 walks compared to 0 of the Flyers.