Flyers score seven times in final inning for 13-10 win

The Therwil Flyers and Zurich Challengers engaged in a battle that saw the lead change five times before the Flyers managed to come out on top with a 13-10 win in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader.

	Landis pitched six strong innings, but ended up with his third loss of the season.

The Flyers scored just once in the first inning on Daniel Eichenberger's RBI-single, but the Challengers got that run back on Jose Valdez' RBI-single off Alain Kurz.

Starter Thomas Landis kept the Flyers in check over the next two innings, allowing just two baserunners, one of which was erased by a rare 5-3 double play to end the second inning.

His offense gave him a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the third ininng on Chris Palatinus' team-leading fourth sacrifice of the season, and a fielder's choice that allowed Landis to score from third base.

The Flyers managed to score an unearned run off Landis in the next inning before taking the lead in the fifth on Djibril Traore's solo homer with two outs. Alain Kurz followed with a two-run shot two batters later to give his team a 5-4 lead.

	Joe Cox got two hits for the first time since Game 14 on June 30 against the Athletics.

But the Challengers retook the lead as Landis took care of business himself with a solo homer, his 11th of the season, and Manny Marchant's RBI-single.

But the Flyers again managed to equal the Challengers' offense and tied the game at 6-6 on Roy Allenspach's RBI-single with two outs.

Entering the seventh inning, Landis was given just one batter before being lifted. And he promptly allowed a single to Eichenberger, and Marchant again took over on the mound.

But his defense let him down again and only two of the following seven runs that crossed the plate were earned.

	Nick Lehmann watches a foul ball in the fifth inning.

The Challengers were down 13-6 entering the bottom of the final inning, but they knew that they can still do it.

Alain Kurz allowed two doubles (to Landis and Armin Blickenstorfer">Armin Blickenstorfer), a walk and a single, and retired two batters before being lifted for reliever Reto Siegel.

But Joe Cox and Benitez singled to score two more runs.

But the game ended just like Game 1, with a flyout to center field.

With that two wins, the Flyers clinched first place after the regular season with a record of 20-3, and a 2.5 game lead on the Challengers who still have two games remaining next weekend against the Zurich Barracudas.

Game notes: Benitez collected his 100th career RBI for the Challengers with his RBI-single in the seventh inning. ...The 5-3 double play in the second inning completed Landis' 600th inning pitched in the NLA.