Cardinals use one big inning to take opener 6-1

What started as a pitching duel unfolded into a clear affair for the Bern Cardinals.

The reigning Swiss Champions sent 10 batters to the plate in a 5-run sixth inning to take the Semifinals Series opener 6-1 against the Zurich Challengers.

Ryan Byrne of the Cardinals delivered a masterpiece as he went the distance and allowed only a single unearned run on four hits and three hit-by-pitches, while also striking out eight.

Johnny Perigo was the only Cardinal with two hits, while Jesus Martinez was the only Challenger to do so.

The Cardinals opened the score as Perigo's RBI-single plated Samy Paulino who two batters earlier reached on a throwing error by shortstop Saentis Zeller.

Martinez' double in the second inning was the only Challenger baserunner through the first three innings before Tobias Siegrist reached after being hit by a pitch with one out in the fourth.

He came around to tie the game as Byrne failed to catch Kurt Kovac's popup in the infield with two outs.

Meanwhile, Andrea Girasole kept the opponents in check and didn't allow a baserunner past first base up until the sixth inning.

And that's when the wheels fell off for the Challengers.

Paulino led off with a triple, and Seth Suplin plated him with a sac fly, a line drive that was caught by left fielder Patrick Maier on a dive.

Perigo followed with a double, and Benji Waite and Raphael Hänzi hit back-to-back singles to extend the Cardinals' lead to 3-1.

That made the day for Girasole. He would end the day with five runs allowed - two of them unearned - on six hits and two walks, while also striking out one in 5 1-3 innings.

On came lefty Harry Bregy who started by walking Tobias Imboden to load the bases with just one out.

Miro Bussmann hit a sac fly to right for the second out, and yet another throwing error by shortstop Zeller extended the Cards' lead and the inning, and also prompted coach Chris Palatinus to summon Siegrist to take over on the mound.

His wild pitch during the first batter's at-bat he faced scored the fifth Cardinals run in the inning, and after a walk, he finally managed to get the final out by inducing Paulino to hit into a fielder's choice to shortstop Zeller.

The Challengers tried hard to find an answer, but Byrne proved to be too tough that day.

His hit-by-pitch of Siegrist in the eighth inning was the only baserunner the Challengers had in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, and their last hit was a single by Thomas Blank with two outs in the ninth.

Luigi Cinardi flew out to right to end the game.

The next two games will be held in Bern on September 29 and 30, respectively. Game 2 will see a matchup of Waite (10-1 in the regular season) against Rob Sedin (5-2).

Game notes
Siegrist was hit by a pitch a record three times by Byrne. His seven hit-by-pitches are also a new career season-high. ...Bryan Shemley grounded out to first in the third inning in what twas his 800th plate appearance in the NLA.