The semi-finals in the German Baseball-Bundesliga couldn’t have started better for a neutral observer. Both duels are tied 1-1 after the first two games and there should be plenty of drama in games three to five on August 15 and 16.
In Mannheim the TORNADOS and the BUCHBINDER LEGIONAERE picked up one win each and homeruns had a big word in the final say. In game one Ludwig Glaser smacked two long balls, Matt Vance one, as the left infield duo of REGENSBURG led their club to a 6-5 win. In the second match Marvin Appiah saved the day for the home crowd, as he went deep on a 3-1 pitch in the bottom of the ninth for a two-run walk off homerun in a 8-7 MANNHEIM victory. Sascha Lutz, who also homered in game one, had four hits in the game. The LEGIONAERE blew a three-run lead after the top of the seventh.
In Heidenheim Markus Winkler allowed just one hit in seven innings in game one to lift the HEIDEKOEPFE to a 4-1 win, defeating national teammate Enorbel Marquez-Ramirez. The home team hoped for a 2-0 lead with Dusty Bergman on the mound in the second match, but starting pitcher Jens Cornelsen and the ALLIGATORS had different plans, scoring three runs in the sixth on their way to a 5-2 win.
More on the games on Monday evening
Results:
Mannheim Tornados – Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg 5-6
Mannheim Tornados – Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg 8-7
Heidenheim Heidekoepfe – Solingen Alligators 4-1
Heidenheim Heidekoepfe – Solingen Alligators 2-5
(both best-of-five series tied 1-1)