German Finals Game 1:
(0-1) Heidenheim Heidekoepfe – Mannheim Tornados 1-4
MAT 000 220 000 4 8 1 HEI 100 000 000 1 7 1
Well, don’t trust info on team websites. The TORNADOS surprisingly had Martin Dewald (W 6-0) on the mound in game one of the German Finals in HEIDENHEIM anyway, and he led them to a 4-1 win. Dewald, who was supposed to go to the United States this week, starting the new year on college, went nine strong innings, allowing just one run on seven hits, striking out six.
After the HEIDEKOEPFE had taken a 1-0 lead in the opening frame on a two-out RBI double by Robert Gruber (Ryan Lilly scored all the way from first), MANNHEIM decided the outcome offensively with two runs each in the fourth and the fifth. A sac bunt by Billy Hess tied the contest at 1-1 after an error had advanced leadoff hitter Sascha Lutz to third. Jens Heymer followed with a RBI single to put the TORNADOS in front. One inning later they added a pair of insurance runs on RBI singles by Dominik Hoepfner and Chris Falls.
Markus Winkler (L 3-1) lost for the first time in the 2009 playoffs, surrendering eight hits, four runs (2 ER) and four walks in nine innings. He struck out three. Game two of the best-of-five series is scheduled for Sunday at 1pm CET.
Schedule:
Sunday, August 23
13:00 Heidenheim Heidekoepfe – Mannheim Tornados
Saturday, August 29
13:00 Mannheim Tornados – Heidenheim Heidekoepfe
Sunday, August 30
13:00 Mannheim Tornados – Heidenheim Heidekoepfe*
15:30 Mannheim Tornados – Heidenheim Heidekoepfe*
*if necessary