Byrne, Bregy combine on no-hitter against Lions

It took the Challengers eight innings to beat the Zürich Lions due to the 10-run mercy rule, but in the end, Ryan Byrne and Harry Bregy wound up throwing a combined no-hitter in an 11-1 win last Friday night.

Starter Byrne went five innings and struck out 10 batters, increasing his league-leading total to 68 in 42 2-3 innings. He also walked six but was credited with just his second win of the season.

Bregy pitched the final three innings, allowing an unearned run on shortstop Eidrys Reyes’ throwing error in a 1st-and-3rd rundown situation.

Other than that situation, only two runners reached as far as second base as the Lions were overmatched by the Challengers’ two southpaws.

Offensively, the Challengers strung together six extra-base hits, including two doubles by Byrne and Tobias Siegrist’s franchise-leading ninth career triple in the third inning.

Rob Sedin raised his team-leading batting average to .431 by going 3-for-4 with a double and two singles.

Game notes
Thomas Blank lined out to the pitcher in the fourth inning in his 700 at-bat in the NLA. ...Shemley struck out looking in the fourth innning in his 800th at-bat in the NLA. ...Bregy's save was his fifth of his career, tying Thomas Landis for fourth place on the Challengers' all-time list.