After losing four games at home against the same opponent last week, the Perth Heat got payback and swept a four-game series on the road over the Sydney Blue Sox this time around. On Sunday Perth won 4-1 after pitcher’s duel. A RBI double by Mitchell Graham broke the scoreless tie in the top of the seventh. The Heat added three more runs in the eighth and ninth, including a solo homerun by Luke Hughes. Sydney only was able to avoid the shutout with a RBI single by Timothy Auty in the bottom of the ninth. Matt Zachary (W 1-1) allowed just four hits in seven innings for the win. Craig Anderson (L 3-2) issued seven hits, a run and a walk to take the loss.
Two more games were played in the Australian Baseball League on Sunday. The Canberra Cavalry lost 4-8 to the Brisbane Bandits and the playoff hopes are winding down. Four runs in the top of the tenth, three on a bases clearing double by Josh Roberts, decided the outcome. Canberra had tied the contest in the ninth thanks to a two-out RBI single by Tylor Prudhomme. Donald Lutz, who had hit three homeruns in the past three days, went 1-for-5, while Mariekson Gregorius was 0-for-3 with a sac bunt. Additionally the Adelaide Bite scored six runs in the first en route to a 10-7 victory over the Melbourne Aces. Adelaide is now leading the standings.
Results:
Thursday, January 6:
Melbourne Aces – Adelaide Bite 11-8
Canberra Cavalry – Brisbane Bandits 6-7 (13)
Sydney Blue Sox – Perth Heat 1-3
Friday, January 7:
Melbourne Aces – Adelaide Bite 3-6
Canberra Cavalry – Brisbane Bandits 9-7
Sydney Blue Sox – Perth Heat 7-11
Saturday, January 8:
Melbourne Aces – Adelaide Bite 2-9
Canberra Cavalry – Brisbane Bandits 9-16
Sydney Blue Sox – Perth Heat 3-4
Sunday, January 9:
Canberra Cavalry – Brisbane Bandits 4-8 (10)
Sydney Blue Sox – Perth Heat 1-4
Melbourne Aces – Adelaide Bite 7-10
Live play by play and complete coverage of the Australian Baseball League on the official website
Standings:
- Adelaide Bite 18-12
- Perth Heat 18-14
- Sydney Blue Sox 17-14
- Melbourne Aces 16-15
- Brisbane Bandits 13-17
- Canberra Cavalry 11-21