Rainbows rally for six runs in the fifth inning to beat Challengers 13-9

The Challengers couldn't protect a 7-4 lead and also lost Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader 13-9 against the Embrach Rainbows.

	Thomas Blank was the only Challenger with two hits.

The Challengers managed to get out of the starting gates early this time, scoring six runs off starter Castro.

But Willy Schaub also gave up four runs - one of them unearned - in his three innings of work.

Reliever Orlando Balbuena took over in the fourth innning after Schaub walked the first three batters to load the bases.

Balbuena balked, enabling the Rainbows to get within 7-5, but he managed to retire the next three batters in order.

But then things fell apart for Balbuena and his defense.

Three defensive errors and a three-run homer by Valdez led to six Rainbow runs which the Challengers couldn't counter in the final two innings.

Mark Imhof pitched four innings for the Rainbows in which he gave up only three hits while also striking out five.

Balbuena again ended up with the loss by giving up eight runs - two of them unearned - on five hits and no walks.

Balbuena fell to 3-3 on the season, and so did the Challengers in the Promotion Round, dropping to third place.