Cards complete double by sweeping Challengers with 3-1 win

The Bern Cardinals are Swiss Champions 2005, completing the double after winning the Swiss Cup, as well.

The Cards took three straight games from the Challengers, winning for the seventh time in eight confrontations between the two teams this year.

John Baum's three-run homer in the first inning was the difference in an excellent ballgame.

Starter Harry Bregy lasted 5 1-3 innings, giving up three runs – one of them unearned - on just five hits and three walks while also striking out four.

Bern put Baum on the mound to start the game, and he pitched the first two innings, facing only six batters.

Fries took it from there and pitched the final seven innings, facing only one batter above the minimum of 21 batters.

The Challengers helped his cause as they hit into two double plays, and Anubis Benitez was thrown out trying to advance on a long single to the outfield.

Fries allowed only one run on Benitez' RBI-single in the top of the fourth en route to his third win of the Finals.

The Cardinals executed all the plays in the field, grabbing line drives and turning double plays.

Combined with Fries’ performance on the mound, this team was unbeatable that day.

The Challengers had only one runner reach as far as third base, and that came in the fourth inning when catcher Marco Haas dropped a third strike to Chris Palatinus and had to throw to first base to get the out with Saentis Zeller advancing to third on the play. He later scored on Benitez’ single to center field for the only Challenger run.

Bregy’s fine showing on the mound was wasted by his offense, giving him a record of 4-6 on the season.

Reliever Thomas Landis pitched the final 2 2-3 innings, allowing no more runs to score.

He had a rough start as he loaded the bases with just two pitches: With Fries at first base, he entered the game and hit both Negro and Haas on consecutive pitches.

Then the Cardinals helped his cause with a badly executed squeeze play, leaving Fries strand between third and home with batter Vitus Huber not putting down the bunt.

He later struck out to end the inning.

But it didn’t matter as the Cards were safely riding on Fries’ pitching, retiring the final 14 batters in order.

Game notes
Landis didn’t allow a single run in 11 2-3 innings pitched this season. …Fries dominated the Challengers in the Finals by allowing only five runs on eight hits and two walks, while also striking out 12 in 19 innings, picking up all three wins. …The Cardinals won the double for already the second time after 2001. …The Challengers’ team batting average of .252 in 2005 was the worst ever in franchise history. So is the on-base percentage of .355 and the slugging percentage of .338. They also stole less bases then ever before with just 36. On a positive note, the team’s ERA of 4.79 ranks third in franchise history, only behind last season’s 3.93 and 1995’s fabulous 4.66 mark. …Rookie Thomas Burger’s season ERA of 3.68 ranks sixth on the all-time list. …Anthony Bennett’s three saves are the third best season mark, only behind Manny Marchant’s six in 2002 and Jose Valdez’ four saves in 1998.