Injured players, problematic pitchers, bench clearing, strange decisions, missed opportunities: the 6:12 against the Haar Disciples ended the Guggenberg Legionnaires’ winning streak in an unpleasant way.
Game 2 in the Bayern derby against the Haar Disciples was the opposite of the game from the previous evening in almost all respects. The defeat for the Guggenberg Legionnaires was the least problematic aspect of an encounter with actually very useful conditions. Nicely filled stadium, decent weather, good atmosphere – basically everything was set up for a nice baseball afternoon. In the end, however, the cheerful Dult warm-up turned into a not so funny get-together with strange tones and, above all, unpleasant aftereffects.
Mediocre pitcher debuts
Manager Martin Helmig unpacked two new pitchers for Saturday. Aljo Sujak took over the starting position from Scott Harkin, whose arm should be rested a little in view of the double double pack against Heidenheim next week. Newcomer Sujak would certainly have wished for a happier premiere. In just over four innings, he conceded eight hits, seven runs and three walks.
The 27-year-old’s throws made a good impression. However, the Disciples relied very successfully on Sujak’s fastball and made a number of really hard contacts. Throughout the game, the guests’ balls often took an unpleasant path for the defense, rumbling over the base and landing just short of the baseline. At the same time, the legionnaires were able to make significantly less use of their hits. Here, too, there was a lot of hard contact, but far too often the balls ended up directly in an opponent’s glove. The statistics of the game provide clear information about the constellation: with 15 hits on both sides, the guests scored twice as many points in the end.
For Sujak, who didn’t seem the safest given how the game was going, the young Irishman Patrick Mitchel took over relatively soon in a very difficult situation. The otherwise reliable Marlon Jimenez made it possible for the Disciples’ fourth point with a wild throw, while his predecessor Sujak ensured the bases were loaded with a walk. Interrupted by a strikeout, the 20-year-old gave Munich three more points with a walk and thus a 7-1 lead.
Santa Cruz has to go, Bollinger remains
Disciples pitcher Ryan Bollinger was noticeable in a different way immediately afterwards in the bottom of the fifth inning. The 33-year-old felt compelled to tackle Marlon Jimenez, who was now placed at second base. Jimenez had previously created a sense of optimism for the Regensburg team with a 2-RBI single. The American pitcher probably didn’t enjoy it much and was later bothered by the fact that Jimenez, who had now landed on second base, had given his colleague Lou Helmig a hint about the expected direction of the pitch. But instead of turning to his overzealous catcher, Bollinger preferred to attack the opponent.
As a result, the baseball fans in the Armin Wolf Arena experienced bench clearing again for a long time. Both teams including coaches met completely on the field. However, it remained a verbal argument. Lenin Santa Cruz, assistant coach of Martin Helmig, packed his Cuban temperament into a few energetic words that were enough for the umpire to throw Santa Cruz off the field. Why the riotous Bollinger was allowed to continue playing as the cause of the whole drama remains the umpires’ secret.
Photos: Rene Thalemann
Not the only strange decision on this memorable day. Overall, the calls at home plate with unsightly regularity caused astonishment on the field and in the stands. The strike zone was interpreted quite freely that day.
In any case, Lou Helmig was unimpressed by the Bollinger show and the unpleasant surrounding circumstances, but with a big hit he set the signal for the continuation of the catch-up race and gave Marlon Jimenez a run. The previously clear result suddenly became a 2-run game again.
Collision in centerfield
Relatively little changed until the final inning, with the Disciples taking a 9-6 lead into the final period of the game. Quite feasible for the legionnaires if their opponents remain without any further points. That’s exactly what seemed to happen. With two outs, a fly ball to the middle of the field followed with bases loaded. Instead of the catch by center fielder Devon Ramirez, there was a serious collision with shortstop Alex Schmidt, who was also heading towards the ball.
Both Legionnaires players had really taken off during the collision and lay on the grass in the Armin Wolf Arena for several minutes. As a result, three more points fell into the Disciples’ lap and the game was virtually decided. At this point, no one on the Regensburg side was interested in that anymore. The focus was on concern for the two players.
Ramirez’s diagnosis is still pending
At least for Alex Schmidt things continued after a short injury break. However, he is likely to feel the consequences of the collision for a few days. It was a little more serious for Devon Ramirez, who left the field with a hand injury and went straight to the hospital. At least it was determined there that no bones were broken. An MRI scan must provide more detailed information about the injury.
Ramirez himself was in good spirits again in the evening. He currently doesn’t even think that playing at the Heidenheim games next week is out of the question. It wouldn’t be the first time that Regensburg’s multifunctional weapon was found damaged on the field. Ramirez has also proven that he can perform very well under difficult conditions.
2024-05-04 21:10:20
#Painful #series #unpleasant #events #Guggenberg #Legionnaires #Regensburg
