EXL: Eagles come back from behind against Hluboká. Draci snapped the losing streak
There were three night games played in Extraliga on Friday. And we only get to see close games.
Arrows Ostrava – Technika Brno 6-4
The game of two teams at the bottom of the table started better for the visitors from Brno who, thanks to a two run homerun from Richard Sázavský, took an early lead. However, everything changed after the second inning. In the bottom half Jakub Kubica put himself into the hit and his grand slam homerun started a cheerful eruption in the stands.
Next run came after a homerun as well, this time from Daniel Mráz’s bat. It was the first homerun since 2017 for Brno player and it got Technika close to their opponent, decreasing Hluboká’s lead to 3-4. Arrows responded in the fourth inning, when Jakub Malík (who else) blasted a two run homerun.
Only the last run of the game didn’t come after a homerun, when Sázavský reached the home base in the fifth inning. Marko Vykoukal and Boris Bokaj didn’t allow more innings, which gave Arrows the first win of the series. Technika didn’t win despite outhitting their opponent 12 to 6. The series continues on Saturday in Ostrava, where the remaining two games will be played.
Sokol Hluboká – Eagles Praha 5-8 (F/10)
We could see even more dramatic ending in southern Bohemia, where Hluboká hosted Eagles Praha. Visitors were unable to score against Japanese pitcher Takamune Ichige and were 0-5 behind. However, Alec Lemmon came on mound in the eighth inning and Prague saw the opportunity. Helped with defensive errors, Eagles managed to tie the game.
Fans got some extra baseball when game went to extra innings at 5-5. Visitors started it with a walk and then double from Michal Antoň. When Martin Mužík made an error, Eagles took 8-5 lead. Mikuláš Hanuš didn’t allow any more runs in the bottom half of the inning and Prague team could celebrate another win. They currently have 8 of them, the most of any Extraliga teams.
Draci Brno – Třebíč Nuclears 6-5
Reigning champions entered the second game against Třebíč attempting to snap their losing streak. Juan Jaime, who played his first game of the season, was meant to help them out. And Dominican pitcher gave Draci the steadiness on the mound they so desperately needed. He only allowed 2 runs in six innings.
Visiting Ryan Johnson kept his team’s hopes alive for a long time, when he only allowed 1 run in 4 innings. However, Draci scored 3 runs against him in the fifth inning and they took 4-2 lead. They then added 2 more runs in the sixth inning and Lukáš Pacal substituted Johnson on the mound.
But a 4 run lead didn’t last long. Václav Tauš, who came in for Jaime let 3 batters on bases, for Jake Rabinowitz to score in two of them. Draci changed the pitcher again and sent in David Mergans, who they hoped could keep the team’s lead. He was able to do so, even if Třebíč added one more run.
Draci defended a narrow lead and after losing 4 games in row, they finally won. Series is now tied at 1-1. Teams will face each other one more time on Saturday, once again in YD Baseball Arena in Brno.
