Tornados take 2-1 Lead in German Finals

Martin Dewald pitches another gem

The Tornados are just one win away from their twelfth German title after beating the Heidekoepfe 5-2 on Saturday in game three of the best-of-five series. Games four (1pm CET) and possible five will be played on Sunday, again in Mannheim.

Martin Dewald (W 7-0) impressed again, going nine innings and allowing just two unearned runs on six hits and an intentional walk, while striking out seven. He now accounts for seven of the eight Mannheim wins during the 2009 playoffs.

The Tornados got on the board early, scoring three runs in the second on a RBI double by Dominik Hoepfner, a sac fly by Sascha Lutz and an error. Lutz and Chris Falls scored in the fifth to extend the advantage to five runs, the latter on a RBI triple by Marvin Appiah.

Heidenheim, which played with the recovering Simon Guehring (fractured heel) as designated hitter, tried to come back in the eighth, but managed only two runs on an error and a RBI double by Ryan Lilly. However Robert Gruber flied out to right to end the threat with the bases loaded.

Markus Winkler (L 3-2) surrendered eight hits, five runs (4 ER) and a walk in eight innings. He struck out two. Teammate Dusty Bergman will get the nod in game four, hoping to stretch the series to a fifth game.