Byrne and Bern Cardinals keep Challengers in check, win 8-4

The Challengers just can't figure out Ryan Byrne, losing 8-4 in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader.

Byrne earned his fifth win of the season by pitching a complete game in which he allowed four earned runs on seven hits and two walks, while also striking out 11.

Eidrys Reyes had team-highs in hits with three and RBIs with two, pushing his team-leading batting average to .464.

His two-run single in the first inning gave his team the only lead of the entire game.

After the Cardinals quickly scored a run in the opening frame off Andrea Girasole on a single by Samy Paulino, a sac bunt, a walk and an error, Reyes lined an offering by Byrne with two outs to drive in James Sanders and Robert Sedin.

But the Cards retook the lead right away in the next inning as they scored twice by getting four hits off Girasole.

Girasole settled down after that, and gave his offense a chance to come back, which it did. In the fifth inning, Sanders tied the game at 3-3 with an RBI-single, but Byrne escaped further damage as Sanders got thrown out at second trying to stretch his single.

The Cards again answered promptly and again took the lead on a sac fly by Paulino.

Girasole didn't survive the seventh inning as he was pulled after Jhonny Perigo led off with a double.

Harry Bregy came on but couldn't handle the Cardinals' bats. He surrendered two more hits and a sac fly which led to three runs and a 7-3 Cardinals lead.

The Challengers scored their final run as Saentis Zeller scored on Tobias Siegrist's 3-1 ground out.

Game notes
Byrne is 4-0 against the Challengers over the last two seasons. ...The bottom four players of the Challengers' lineup combined for seven strikeouts in eight at-bats, with Jesus Martinez striking out three times.