The CAPITALS, still in fourth place in the Baseball-Bundesliga standings, need a win in their last regular season game on Sunday against the dominating team in the northern conference, the ALLIGATORS. It’s pretty simple; if BONN loses, they will drop behind the DORTMUND WANDERERS and will likely miss the postseason, as the COLOGNE CARDINALS need just one victory in their remaining last three matchups. If the CAPS win they are in.
They rely mainly on starter Tim Henkenjohann to lead them to an upset the powerful offense of SOLINGEN. The former minor league prospect in the MINNESOTA TWINS organization came back from a broken hand injury in June and pitched pretty well in his starts since his return. Especially his control seems to be improved in comparison to the past, as he has walked just three in 17 2/3 innings this season. He has a 1-1 record with an ERA of 1.53 with 21 strikeouts.
The ALLIGATORS need just one victory to clinch first place in the standings. Both of their number one starters pitched for the National Team last Tuesday against Team USA. It is not clear if Andre Hughes (9-1, ERA 2.03) or Enorbel Marquez-Ramirez (10-0, ERA 1.05) is getting the start this weekend. SOLINGEN has won the first three games in the season series so far out-scoring BONN 30-1. Marquez-Ramirez also threw a perfect game versus the CAPITALS the last time around. With Henkenjohann on the mound a surprise is not impossible for the CAPS, though not very likely with the domination by the ALLIGATORS this season.
{mrb-schedule:2008-07-19|2008-07-20|DE}
{mrb-standing:germany-2008}