Germany beats Czech Republic, earns first win in U-23 Baseball World Cup

Germany earned its first victory in Group A play, dowing the Czech Republic 6-4 in a hard-fought battle in the first game of the day in Ciudad Obregon on Saturday.

Taking advantage of an error by Czech second baseman Filip Smola, Germany grabbed a 4-0 lead in the top of the third inning by putting together four straight hits with two outs. Lou Helmig delivered the first RBI single - his fourth RBI of the tournament - and David Grimes followed with a two-run double. Danny Lankhorst singled home Grimes to cap the scoring in the inning.  

The Czech Republic got two runs back in the fourth. Jakub Grepl was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Martin Kalabek, making his first start of the tournament, delivered an RBI single to cut Germany's lead in half. Germany's first reliever, Samuel Steigert was able to strike out back-to-back hitters with the bases loaded to keep it 4-2 Germany into the fifth.

Ondrej Kalandra came up with a clutch two-out double in the sixth to bring the Czech Republic to within one, but Germany came roaring back with two runs in the top of the seventh to take a 6-3 lead into the final stanza.

Two walks and single set the Czech team up for late game heroics, but Joe Cedano de Leon was called into the bases-loaded none-out situation and responded.  After getting Filip Smola to fly out to center, Cedano de Leon struck-out Martin Cervinka on the front end of what wound up being a game-ending strike 'em out throw 'em out double play. Catcher Maurice Bendrien made the game winning throw, catching Marek Chlup attempting to steal second.

"You'd better credit our shortstop Alexander Schmidt," said Bendrien after the game. "He is the one who saved our win."

The loss was a heartbreaker for a Czech Republic team that shocked Mexico with a 5-1 victory on Thursday night but has now dropped two straight.  The loss came despite an outstanding start from Filip Capka. The right-hander went six innings without allowing an earned run.

Lou Helmig again paced the offense for Germany, adding two RBIs to his team-leading total, which now sits at five.

Both 1-2 teams will be back in action on Sunday, with Germany taking on Cuba and the Czech Republic meeting the Dominican Republic at Estadio Yaquis.