Group A: Czech Republic – Germany
Germany 000 000 003 3 8 1 Czech Republic 000 000 010 1 3 0
Germany celebrated a 3-1 comeback win over the Czech Republic on Tuesday afternoon in Nieuw Vennep. In a Group A matchup at the European Championship the German squad erased a 0-1 deficit with three runs in the top of the ninth and pocketed an important win for the final round. The Czech team dropped to 3-2 and will enter the next stage at 0-2 instead of 1-1.
It was a thrilling pitcher’s duel between Enorbel Marquez-Ramirez for Germany and Radim Chroust for the Czech Republic. Both pitchers didn’t allow any runs through the first seven innings and were exchanging zeros on the scoreboard.
The Czech Republic broke the scoreless tie in the eighth. Marquez-Ramirez was replaced after a leadoff double by Petr Zyma. Reliever Tim Stahlmann walked the next batter and Jakub Hajtmar moved the runners up with a sac bunt. Following an intentional base on balls to load the bases Germany switched to Max Schmitz who promptly walked Martin Schneider to force in a run. However he then struck out Matej Hejma and Jakub Sladek to avoid further damage.
With one out in the ninth Simon Guehring reached base with a single forcing the Czech switch from Chroust to Daniel Mraz. This didn’t work out too well, as Max Boldt and Chris Howard followed with back to back singles to tie the game. After a lineout by Ludwig Glaser, Shawn Larry got walked to load the bases. Now it was the turn for Eric Brenk and Jendrick Speer to hit singles, as they drove in pinch runner Kevin Kotowski and Howard to complete the 3-1 comeback win.
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Photo by Gregor Eisenhuth, www.eisenhuth-photographie.de