Landis almost shuts out Cards, settles with 15-1 win

Thomas Landis pitched a masterpiece for the Challengers, missing his first career shutout by a run.

	Roger Brunner had a game-high three hits and three runs scored.

He allowed no runs through the first five innings until Lehmann scored the only run for the Bern Cardinals on Severin Fries' single with two outs in the top of the sixth inning, getting his first win of the season with a convincing 15-1 victory.

The Challengers jumpstarted their offense in the bottom of the first inning against starter Kleiber, getting five runs on a run-scoring ground out by Landis, an RBI-single by Thor Thoresen and Tobias Siegrist's three-run homer. It was Siegrist's first homer since May 28, 2000.

After a scoreless second inning, the Challengers went up 7-0 on Armin Blickenstorfer">Armin Blickenstorfer's second homer of the day, a two-run shot that scored Brunner.

	Armin Blickenstorfer connects for his second homer of the day, a two-run shot off Kleiber in the third inning.

Severin Fries relieved Kleiber in the bottom of the fourth, but he quickly surrendered five runs on Landis' two-run homer - his second in the doubleheader -, Thoresen's sac fly, Siegrist's two-run double, and an error by left fielder Feliz on Patrick Zöllig's fly ball with two outs that scored Siegrist from second.

Through the first five innings, Landis allowed no baserunner past first base until Lehmann stole second base in the sixth inning, later scoring the only run in the top of the sixth on Fries' single.

Landis completed the game, allowing only a single run on three singles, no walks and six strikeouts for an ERA of 1.29. It was his 63rd career victory in 89 decisions in the NLA.

	Cards starter Kleiber was roughed up for seven runs on eight hits, and was lifted after three innings.

The Challengers finished the scoring in the bottom of the sixth on back-to-back RBI-singles by Harry Bregy and Chris Palatinus, and a wild pitch by Fries for the final score of 15-1.

Game notes
Bregy committed the only error in the field as he misplayed Fries' ground ball in the first inning. Fries was then erased as Sammet lined out to center fielder Roger Brunner on a hit-and-run, easily getting doubled off at first base. ...Third baseman/center fielder Brunner was involved in both double plays of the day, catching a line drive in Game 1 to double off Sammet at third base, and trapping Fries at first base in Game 2.