Szentendre plays cool, Óbuda left frozen in 0-2 hole
Sunday October 18th, 2009 | Riska Tags: bajnokság, döntő, óbuda brick factory, playoff, szentendre sleepwalkers
On an unusually cold October weekend game2 of the championship series was started by two veteran pitchers and one of them even managed to complete it. Attila Varkonyi limited the Óbuda offense to 4 hits and one run, struck out seven and was helped by a stellar defense to pitch a complete game. It was a great pitching duel, Xiong Xiabo, the Chinese import of Brick Factory, matched up with Varkonyi through eight innings.
Score was tied 1-1 in the top of the 9th, when Xiabo hit the first batter he faced and was relieved by Zsolt Zalabai. Zalabai pitched well but despite the cold weather there came a defensive meltdown for team Óbuda. After the hit by pitch the next two batters reached base on infield errors, both of them commited by first baseman Jorge Fernandez. In addition to that Sleepwalkers grabbed the lead, scoring on a passed ball. After another passed ball and a balk the bases were empty, so the fans actually cheered a 3 run rally which happened without a basehit. After these misplays Zalabai settled in and retired the next three batters in order.
Balazs Kalocsai started the bottom of the ninth with a basehit, but the Óbuda rally was closed short after Norbert Goor grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Várkonyi finished the game by striking out Csaba Goor looking.
Seems the cold weather gave the necessary cold blood to Szentendre team to win this nailbiter. After this 4-1 victory Sleepwalkers lead the series 2-0, next game will be played on Sunday 18th, at 11:00 am.
