Czech Republic 004 010 37 15 13 1 Germany 100 001 01 3 10 2
The Czech Republic has ousted Germany at the World Baseball Classic Qualifier in Mexicali on Friday afternoon. They won by a score of 15-3 in eight mercy rule shortened innings. They stay alive and face the loser of Friday evening’s matchup between Mexico and Nicaragua on Saturday. Germany is eliminated and has to go home.
Germany had actually the better start and took a quick 1-0 lead in the first. However a botched double play attempt at second led to a four-run rally in the third and got the Czech Republic ahead 4-1. Germany couldn’t recover and the Czech squad added ten more runs in the seventh and eighth against an imploding German pitching staff.
Martin Cervenka hit a grand slam and drove in six runs overall. Mike Cervenak went 4-for-5 with three runs and three RBI. Matej Hejma scored three runs and drove in two. John Straka allowed one run on five hits in five innings for the win. Jan-Niclas Stoecklin took the loss, issuing five hits, five runs (1 ER) and a walk in 5 2/3 innings.