German Finals Game 3:
(2-1) Mannheim Tornados – Heidenheim Heidekoepfe 5-2
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The TORNADOS now are just one win away from the twelfth championship in the German Baseball-Bundesliga. They defeated the HEIDEKOEPFE 5-2 in game three on Saturday behind another gem from Martin Dewald (W 7-0) to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.
Dewald allowed just two unearned runs on six hits and a walk in nine innings for his seventh win during the postseason. He struck out seven. MANNHEIM took a 3-0 lead in the second frame on a RBI double by Dominik Hoepfner, a sac fly by Sascha Lutz and an error by shortstop Ryan Lilly. An error by catcher Hagen Raetz helped Lutz to score the fourth run in the fifth, while Chris Falls came around on a RBI triple by Marvin Appiah.
HEIDENHEIM avoided the shutout by scoring twice in the eighth. Johannes Schaeffler crossed the plate on an error by first baseman Jens Heymer, Raetz on a double by Lilly. Even the surprising comeback by Simon Guehring didn’t inject the HEIDEKOEPFE offense. The national team catcher had fractured his heel in July and started as designated hitter.
Markus Winkler (L 3-2) also went the distance, issuing eight hits, five runs (4 ER) and one walk. He struck out two. Attendance was announced as 646.
Recap Game 1: Heidenheim – Mannheim 1-4
Recap Game 2: Heidenheim – Mannheim 5-0
Schedule:
Sunday, August 30
13:00 Mannheim Tornados – Heidenheim Heidekoepfe
15:30 Mannheim Tornados – Heidenheim Heidekoepfe*
* if necessary