by Embrach Mustangs
The Swiss NLA Championship round kicked off last weekend with the Embrach Mustangs facing the defending champions Bern Cardinals. On Saturday, the Bern Cardinals took advantage of good pitching from Tobias Imboden and an explosive offense to take game 1 by the score of 13-2. The Cardinals pounded the Mustangs pitching for 19 hits. The Cardinals broke the game open in the third inning by reaching Mustangs pitcher Roger Savoldelli for eight runs making it a 10-1 ball game.
On Sunday, the Mustangs faced a must win situation. Once again this game was all about pitching. The Mustangs’ Tim Jones coming off two great performances against the Therwil Flyers was taking on the Bern Cardinals ace Patrick Lawson who was 10-0 on the year with and earned run average of 1.01. Both pitchers did not disappoint the fans as they were brilliant. Both teams were cruising along until the bottom of the sixth when the Mustangs reached Lawson for three runs and that is all Tim Jones needed to gain his third playoff victory as the Mustangs went on to win this game 3-0 and tie the series at 1 game apiece.
In the bottom of the sixth inning Patrick Lawson drilled Mustangs lead- off man Harry Wischnewski with a fastball and then walked Stephan Pribitzer to place runners at first and second with no outs. The Mustangs bus driver Josh Crouse came to the plate and dumped a single into centerfield to load the bases. Christian Klarer then delivered an rbi single to score Wischnewski. Bruno Albrecht stepped to the plate and delivered a clutch two run rbi single scoring Pribitzer and Crouse to make it a 3-0 ball game.
Tim Jones picked up his third win of the playoffs by throwing his second complete game shutout holding the Cardinals to only three hits and striking out 11 batters. He has been lights out in the playoffs. Patrick Lawson who took his first loss on the season also had an 11 strike out performance in defeat.
The Mustangs will travel to Bern on Saturday with Roger Savoldelli scheduled to face Tobias Imboden and Tim Jones will once again face Patrick Lawson in Embrach on Sunday.
Results:
Saturday, October 12, 2013:
Bern Cardinals – Embrach Mustangs 10-1
Sunday, October 13, 2013:
Embrach Mustangs – Bern Cardinals 3-0