2021 CEB Cup: Day 2

On the second day of the CEB Cup, the following games were scheduled: BK Minsk @ Draci Brno, Astros Valencia @ Dornbirn Indians, and Therwil Flyers @ Templiers de Sénart. The first two games were close affairs.

BK Minsk  5  –  6  Draci Brno
In a very close affair, Draci Brno had to go really deep to clinch the victory. BK Minsk took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Yauheni Kisliakou singled to second base and drove in Yauheni Karalevich. But it didn’t take long for Draci to counter. In the bottom of the third inning, Eugene Helder and Pabel Leandro Manzanero Norato hit back-to-back solo shots to give the Czechs the lead. A bases-loaded walk in the seventh inning tied the game at two. One inning later, BK Minsk struck hard. Two doubles, a ground out, a walk and a throwing error, led to three runs. Ilya Sladzinski pitched a hell of a game. He kept BK Minsk in the game but after one hundred and eighteen pitches, he wasn’t able to keep Brno from scoring as they scored two runs in the ninth to tie the game. With the dreaded tie breaker rule, two runners were put on first and second. A fielding error loaded the bases and a sac fly by Martin Kalabek drove in the winning run for Draci Brno. 
David Mergans pitched three innings in relief for the win. He gave up two unearned runs on two hits and a walk and struck out three. Kiryl Kazlousky took the loss. The one run he allowed was unearned as it was the runner that was placed on second with the tie breaker rule. 
Eugene Helder and Pabel Leandro Manzanero Norato went 2 for 4, Helder with a double, an RBI and two runs scored, Manzanero Norato with three RBI and two runs scored. 


Astros Valencia  5  –  4  Dornbirn Indians
After Astros Valencia scored twice on a throwing error in the second inning, the Spaniards extended their lead by a run in the third inning when Roibert Decena singled through the left side and drove in Edison Valerio. But Dornbirn came back in the game in the bottom of the fourth. Singles by Chris Squires and Marcel Theiner drove in two runs. In the next inning, the Indians added two more runs. Another single by Chris Squires and one of Joachim Frick gave the Austrians the lead. But unfortunately for them, they could not cling on to the one-run lead thanks to an error in the eighth inning that allowed Valencia to score the game-tying and the game-winning run on errors. 
Ricardo Hernandez earned the win. In four innings in relief, he gave up two hits, walked one and struck out six. Chris Squires took the loss. In two innings, he allowed two runs on two hits and two walks as he struck out five. 
Blake Ochoa and Roibert Decena both went 3 for 5. Ochoa with a double, Decena with an RBI. 


Therwil Flyers    –    Templiers de Sénart
On France’s national holiday, the Therwil Flyers did not stand a chance against the Templiers de Sénart. The French club didn’t take long to take the lead. Singles by Oliver van der Wijst and Mathis Meurant drove in a run each in the first inning. A double by Alexander Pedromo Castro and a single by Andy Paz, led to another run for Sénart in the second inning. 
In the top of the third inning, the Therwil Flyers got on the board when Hideori Oshima scored from second base on a single by Alan Droke. But Sénart countered immediately. 
A series of errors, a single and a wild pitch allowed the Templiers to score four runs in the bottom of the third. 
In the bottom of the fourth, Sénart added another run when Oliver van der Wijst scored from third on a passed ball. 
In the sixth, Sénart scored a run in a curious way when Romain Martinez-Scott hit the ball sky high above the light towers. As a result the left fielder couldn’t see the ball for a moment and it dropped right in front of him. As a result, Oliver van der Wijst scored Sénarts tenth run and the bases remained loaded with one out. Eventually, the Templiers would score four more runs to clinch the win in seven innings. 
Clifford Heberden earned the win. In two no-hit innings, he walked one and struck out one as well. Ferlon Jesus Gijsbertha Perez took the loss. He lasted three innings in which he allowed seven runs (four earned) on seven hits and three walks as he struck out five. 
Oliver van der Wijst and Mathis Meurant both went 2 for 3. Van der Wijst drove in a run and scored thrice, Meurant drove in a run as well but scored a run less.