Challengers use 12 runs in sixth inning to even record

Three Challenger pitchers combined for a 14-0 shutout of the Embrach Rainbows in Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader.

Yonimiler Martinez picked up his first win of the season by tossing a two-hitter over five innings, and James Sanders and Angel Maduro each pitched one inning to leave the Rainbows empty-handed.

But both offenses started slowly as the two teams combined for a 2-0 score after five innings. An error by first baseman Nic Albrecht enabled Carlos Peña to score the go-ahead run in the first inning, and another misplay by Albrecht in the fifth inning made the second Challenger run unearned, as well.

But the wheels fell off in the sixth inning for Josh Crouse and the Rainbows. After Thomas Blank reached after a strikeout and a passed ball, Crouse managed to retire only one of the next eight batters.

Pinch-hitter Tom Huston's two-run single, and Chris Palatinus' two-run single later in the inning highlighted a 12-run outburst which forced coach Savoldelli to put himself on the mound to extinguish the fire.

But he, as well, was tagged for four runs before getting Peña and James Sanders to fly out to left to end the bleeding.

Both Sanders and Maduro pitched one perfect inning each to give the Challengers their first shutout since an 8-0 win against the Sissach Frogs on July 20, 2008.

Game notes
Siegrist has tied Jose Valdez for fourth place on the all-time list for total bases with 544.