After losing the first two games in Regensburg, Mainz tied the best-of-five-series in the German baseball finals with two wins at the weekend. Both will meet again on Wednesday October 3 to determine the champion.
Mainz Athletics – Regensburg Legionäre 10-9 (10) (1-2)
The A´s won a strange game on Saturday. They led 9-1 until the ninth inning after homeruns of Sascha LUTZ and Martin KIPPHAN. But their relievers stopped throwing strikes in the final frame. Regensburg tied the game with one hit, eight walks and two hit by pitches. All eight runs crossed the plate with two outs. So, the game went to extra-innings.
The Legionäre started the tenth like the period before. They took four walks, but missed an opportunity, when two base runners were tagged out stealing second base. Mainz scored the decisive run in the bottom of the period. Max BOLDT reached base after a throwing error by shortstop Philipp HOWARD. Two one-out-walks loaded the bases for Florian ARNOLD, who struck out. But Flavio RINALDI followed with a long walk off RBI-single into right center field.
Manuel MÖLLER pitched eight strong innings for the Athletics. He allowed six hits, one run and five walks. Martin ALMSTETTER was hit hard. He gave up eleven hits, nine runs (8 ER) and two base on balls. Max BOLDT got the win, Philipp HOFFSCHILD lost.
REG 100 000 008 0 9 7 2
MAI 003 310 200 1 10 13 2
Mainz Athletics – Regensburg Legionäre 3-1 (2-2)
Mainz won also on Sunday and forced a game five next Wednesday in Regensburg. Keigo MYIAGI led them by pitching the complete nine innings. He allowed only four hits, one run and two walks. He hit four batters and struck out five.
The Legionäre brought the first run on the board with a Michael WEIGL solo-homerun in the third. But the Athletics answered with two runs in the bottom of the same period. Martin KIPPHAN tied it with a solo-homerun. Max BOLDT followed with a RBI-double. Sascha LUTZ added an insurance run with a homerun in the eighth.
Matt FLAHERTY started for Regensburg. He gave up ten hits, three runs and two base on balls in seven-plus innings. He struck out two and was ejected for arguing after the pitching change in the eighth.
REG 001 000 000 1 4 0
MAI 002 000 01X 3 10 2
