Day two at the European Cup in Brno, Czech Republic went on with four games after Wednesday’s rainouts. In the morning Bologna edged out the Pioniers in a duel between Italy and the Netherlands thanks to a walk-off homerun in the ninth. In the afternoon Bologna and Sant Boi each scored eight runs to pick up wins against Heidenheim respective Rouen. The Heidekoepfe got in the win column in the evening game, coming back from a deficit against the host AVG Draci Brno. Another four-game day awaits the participants on Friday.
Fortitudo Bologna – Konica Minolta Pioniers 3-1
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Jair Ramos hit a two-run walk-off homerun in the bottom of the ninth to lead Fortitudo Bologna to a 3-1 win against the Konica Minolta Pioniers in the highly anticipated duel between the Italian and Dutch representative at the European Cup in Brno. Jesus Matos (BOL) had dominated with eleven strikeouts through the first seven innings, allowing just a two-out double to Jakub Malik in the top of the first. Bologna took a 1-0 lead in the fifth on a RBI single by Juan Carlos Infante. When Matos left at the end of the seventh, the Pioniers took advantage and tied the contest against closer Victor Moreno (W 1-0, BS 1) in the eighth on a RBI double by Jefferson Muzo. Jurjen van Zijl (L 0-1) gave up three hits, two runs and four bb in eight-plus innings.
Heidenheim Heidekoepfe – Fortitudo Bologna 3-8
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A few minutes after finishing the game against the Pioniers, Fortitudo Bologna again took the field at the AVG Arena in Brno, taking on the German champion Heidenheim Heidekoepfe in a make-up game of Wednesday’s rainout. Thanks to a pair of four-run rallies in the last three frames the Italian champion prevailed 8-3 for their second win of the tournament.
Led by a strong Chris Beck (3-4, BB, run, RBI) the Heidekoepfe had taken a 2-0 lead after five innings and still led by two runs going into the seventh. A RBI triple by Francesco Alaimo put Fortitudo on the board in the seventh, before RBI singles by Juan Carlos Infante, Jairo Ramos and Joseph Mazzuca got them a 4-2 lead. They added four more runs in the ninth to seal the win.
Cody Cillo (W 1-0) issued four hits, two runs and two walks in eight solid innings. He struck out five. Dusty Bergman (L 0-1) struck out seven in seven innings, surrendering eight hits, four runs and three bb.
Rouen Huskies – CB Sant Boi 4-8
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CB Sant Boi overcame a 0-2 deficit against the Rouen Huskies at the Kravi Hora stadium in Brno to win 8-4, picking up their second victory of the tournament. Rouen took a 2-0 lead on RBIs by David Gauthier and Luc Piquet in the first and the fourth. Sant Boi came back in the sixth and got in front 3-2. Daniel Martinez tied the game with a two-run single before Jose Luis Riera capped the rally with a RBI single. A RBI single by Juan Manuel Salazar made it 4-2 in the seventh.
Four more runs in the ninth, highlighted by a solo homerun of Daniel Sanchez and a two-run double of Marc Carrillo blew things wide open. The Huskies were able to cut the deficit in to four runs on a two-run homerun by Aaron Hornostaj in the bottom of the ninth, but it was not enough to initiate another rally.
Ruben Fente (W 1-0) struck out eight batters in 7 1/3 innings, while allowing seven hits, two runs (1 ER) and four bb. Keino Perez (L 0-1) conceded eleven hits, eight runs (7 ER) and three walks in nine innings.
AVG Draci Brno – Heidenheim Heidekoepfe 7-10
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The Heidenheim Heidekoepfe used 19 hits to out-slug host AVG Draci Brno 10-7 in the night game at the AVG Arena on Thursday. The German champion overcame a 2-6-deficit after two innings in the process. Brno didn’t score after the third.
After Heidenheim had the better start, taking a 2-0 lead midway through the second, but the Draci offense exploded for six runs in the bottom of the second to get in front. Jakub Hajtmar highlighted the rally with a three-run rally. But it was not enough, as the Heidekoepfe continued to score, putting runs on the board in each of the first six innings. They tied the game at 7-7, when Peter Dankerl scored on an error in the fifth and regained the lead with a two-run double by Robert Gruber in the sixth.
Simon Guehring crossed the plate three times for Heidenheim. Brandon Taylor went 4-for-5 with two RBI. Markus Winkler (W 1-0) gave up six hits, seven runs (2 ER) and a whopping nine walks in six innings, but still got the win. Just 62 of his 124 Pitches were strikes. Martin Schneider (DRA) issued twelve hits, six runs (5 ER) and a walk. Petr Minarik (L 0-1) took the loss in relief.
Schedule Brno, June 4:
- 10am Rouen Huskies – Heidenheim Heidekoepfe
- 2pm Konica Minolta Pioniers – Rouen Huskies
- 3.30pm Fortitudo Bologna – AVG Draci Brno
- 7.30pm CB Sant Boi – Konica Minolta Pioniers
Live play by play on CEB Website
Standings:
- CB Sant Boi 2-0
- Fortitudo Bologna 2-0
- Heidenheim Heidekoepfe 1-1
- Konica Minolta Pioniers 0-1
- Rouen Huskies 0-1
- AVG Draci Brno 0-2