by John Baum, Bern Cardinals
Cardinals open season with two clear wins in Zurich…combine for no-hitter in game two.
Game one saw Swiss national teamer Tobias Imboden on the hill facing lefty Andre Eugster. The visiting Cards found themselves quickly ahead after a Johnny Perigos 2-run single. The Lions responded with a run of their own to cut the lead in half going into the second. Imboden worked in and out of trouble during his five innings on the mound, surrendering five hits, and issuing five free passes. He would limit the damage along the way, surrendering only one other run in the fourth inning, fanning five. Eugster kept the powerful Bern offense in check for the most part through six innings, allowing two unearned runs in the fourth. In the seventh the Cardinals bust the game wide open, plating four runs on three hits. Six more runs in the eighth inning would seal a run-rule win 14-2. Ryan Byrne made his debut for the Cards on the hill, allowing no runs, and no hits while striking out six, and walking six, throwing the final three innings.
Benji Waite made his first start for Bern in game two, striking out nine in five innings of work, combining with John Baum on a six inning no-hitter! In what has to be one of the most lopsided games in Swiss baseball history, the Cardinals walloped the Lions 37-0, scoring an amazing 23 runs in the sixth inning! After leading 14-0 going into the sixth, the Cards sent 28 batters to the plate, knocking out eleven hits. Baum led the sixth inning charge going 3-3 with two doubles and six RBI. Seth Suplin five runs scored, Perigos, Waite (3 doubles), and Miro Bussmann all scored six times!