EXL: Draci Brno ensured their place in semifinals

11.7.2022 Zuzana Ferková 3 min read

Each of the three series of TOP 6 continues with a game on Saturday. And we get to see the first semifinalist emerge afterwards.

Tempo wanted to get a game back from Draci after their Friday loss. And first three innings looked promising on their part, as the score was kept at 0-0. Both teams relied on their starters. However, Draci pressed Jake Rabinowitz in the fourth inning. The score was opened by a three run homerun from Pabel Manzanero, followed by a run after a wild pitch when Martin Pernička reached the home base. Martin Červinka then cleared the bases and home team was suddenly leading 7-0.

Tempo substituted their pitcher in the fifth inning as Lubomír Čuhel came in for Rabinowitz. He was welcomed by Manzanero’s second HR of the game.

On the other hand Juan Jaime only allowed the visitors one hit in 7 innings and striked ou 12 batters. Brno pitcher is yet to allow a run scored.

The game finished early as Arnošt Dubový sent Helder and Michal Šindelka, for whom it was his first ever Extraliga game, home. With the win, Draci are the first team to play in the semifinals.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Tempo Praha	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			0	1	0
Draci Brno	0	0	0	7	1	0	2			10	14	2

The game in Jundrov promised a duel of two foreign pitchers. Home team started Jon Kennedy, while visitors sent in Alec Lemmon. However, home pitcher only remained on the mound for an inning, as he allowed Arrows two runs after a hit from Martin Šmoldas. He was substituted by Boris Večerka, who pitched 4 innings and Jakub Bílek who finished the game. The new pitchers were able to halt Arrows bats and only allowed one run for the remainder of the game.

However, Hroši were unable to show anything offensively. Lemmon didn’t allow any runs in 7 innings and he striked out 7 batters. Boris Bokaj then came in to close the game and earn his first Save of the season.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Arrows Ostrava	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	9	0
Hroši Brno	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0

Třebíč needed to step up their game after a home loss on Friday, or they risked losing any hopes to get to the semifinals. Eagles still compete for the semifinal spot and so every game is important for them as well. In the end, it was a close game. Both starters Albert Pražák and Jeffrey Barto allowed their opponents two runs and the winner had to be decided in the late part of the game.

Reliever David Wilson allowed first two batters on the mound in the seventh inning and so Vasko Kolev came in for him. He started with two strikeouts, but Pavel Jozek‚s hit scored the third run for Nuclears and gave them the lead.

Ryan Johnson then successfully closed the game. Třebíč returned Eagles the favor from the Friday game and so the series winner will be decided on Sunday in Prague.