Press Release Australian Baseball League
Round 4 of the 2016/17 Australian Baseball League season saw the Jet Couriers Melbourne Aces train continue to roll, the SA Power Networks Adelaide Bite handle the Heat, and the reigning champions regain some of the winning form that seemed lost the round before.
ADELAIDE (8-8) def. PERTH (5-11)
After a series loss in Round 3, Adelaide rebounded well last weekend in Perth, taking three of four from the home Heat. Josh Altmann drove in three runs and Loek van Mil pitched out of a jam in the ninth to lead the Bite to a 5-4 win in the series opener. Max MacNabb (2-0, 1.54) had another solid outing in his second start of the season, tossing six innings of two-run, eight-hit baseball to put Adelaide on track for an 8-2 win in Game 2.
But the Heat fought back in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader. Young righthander Tom Bailey (1-1, 3.00) pitched one of the best games of his career, allowing just one run on four hits in seven innings on the mound and striking out a career-high 11 batters. However, Adelaide roared back in the finale, scoring nine runs on 11 hits to take the game 9-5 and the series 3-1.
MELBOURNE (11-5) def. CANBERRA (8-8)
The Aces won the battle between the best-pitching team in the league and the best-hitting team went in the favour of the masters of the mound last weekend in Melbourne. Reigning Pitcher of the Week and former Major Leaguer Mark Hamburger (3-0, 1.00) hammered the strike zone again against the Cavalry, striking out 12 batters for the second-straight start in the Aces’ 5-1 win in Game 1. Keisuke Honda tossed a complete-game shutout in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader, leading Melbourne to a 3-0 win.
Melbourne completed the doubleheader sweep in the Saturday nightcap, thanks in part to the powerful bat of young Jarryd Dale, who drove in a pair of runs in the home side’s 7-4 win. But the Cavalry evaded being swept on the road, taking the finale 2-1. Kyle Perkins drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth and Atlanta Braves minor leaguer and Team Australia pitcher Steve Kent picked up his third save of the year, tossing a scoreless frame in the bottom half of the inning.
BRISBANE (7-9) split with SYDNEY (9-7)
The reigning champion Bandits entered the weekend needing to right the ship after a tough weekend at home, while the the home Sydneysiders tried to keep momentum near the top of the league ladder. Brisbane took the first game 2-0 behind Justin Erasmus (1-0, 3.26), who tossed six strong innings, allowing three hits while striking out nine batters, and closer Ryan Searle, who fanned six batters in six innings for his fourth save of the season.
The Blue Sox took a 2-1 series lead over the Bandits by sweeping both games of a Saturday doubleheader. Milwaukee Brewers prospect Malik Collymore smashed a three-run home run in the first game as Sydney won 6-2. Alex Howe played hero in the nightcap, hitting a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth to give the Blue Sox an exciting 9-8 win. But the Bandits regrouped in the finale, besting former Major Leaguer Chris Oxspring (0-1, 8.31), who made his first ABL appearance since 2012. Tampa Bay Rays prospect Kevin Padlo drove in three runs as Brisbane won 5-1, splitting the series.