Challengers lose Game 2 in first inning

Game 2 was almost over after just the first frame.

Rookie pitcher Angel Maduro didn't manage to retire a single batter, and allowed six runs on four hits and two walks, inflating his ERA to 27.00.

That was all the Cardinals needed in an 8-6 victory, that was almost stopped by rain and tough conditions.

The Challengers managed to get to starter John Baum in the first inning on Tobias Siegrist's RBI-single and a wild pitch, but then saw their early lead evaporate in the bottom half.

They got right back by scoring two more on yet another Baum wild pitch, and Carlos Peña's sacrifice fly to shorten the Cardinals' lead to 7-4.

After that, Baum settled down and recorded at least one strikeout in every inning, finishing with a total of 12 K's on the game.

Only in the final two inning did the Challengers manage to get something going as the Cardinals' defense again showed some weaknesses.

Ueli von Burg's single to right field was misplayed by Tobias Imboden, enabling Thomas Blank to score, and in the seventh inning, James Sanders reached on center fielder Jhonny Perigo's misplay, eventually scoring on Siegrist's second RBI-single of the game.

But Baum sealed the deal by striking out Thomas Landis and Yonimiler Martinez, and getting Jesus Martinez to ground into a game-ending 6-4 fielder's choice.

The Challengers outhit their opponents 10-7, but left too many runners stranded on the bases, especially in the final two innings.

Reliever Yonimiler Martinez ended up tossing six innings, in which he gave up on only two runs on three hits and two walks, while also striking out three.