While the series split was something of a letdown for the Aces after winning six on the trot, it nevertheless left the club with an 11-11 winning record that has it breathing down the neck of second-placed Canberra Cavalry and not far adrift of league-leading Perth Heat.
With Sydney boasting a similar record, attention will now be focused on the crucial four-game Aces versus Blue Sox series to be played at Melbourne Ballpark starting on Friday 20 December.
GAME ONE: MELBOURNE ACES 5 defeated BRISBANE BANDITS 2
Riding a wave of confidence after sweeping Adelaide at home, Melbourne turned on the offence at Holloway Field, with solo home runs by Brad Harman and Justin Huber giving the visitors a two-run break after the second.
And there was more grief to come for the Bandits, as Jared Schlehuber launched a two-run missile in the third, delivering great support to Aces starter Lewis Thorpe, who retired the first twelve hitters he saw in another stunning outing that ended as a four-hitter over six – with one earned run when Brisbane plated a run in the bottom of six.
Relieving Alex Kaminsky for Brisbane, Rhys Niit was taken for another long ball in the seventh – a solo shot by Josh Davies – while Eric Marzec conceded a fortuitous run in the eighth before fanning danger man David Sutherland and handing the pill to former Bandit Justin Erasmus to close out the game.
While the Bandits had their scoring opportunities, the Aces pitching and defence were impeccable in a terrific all-round outing in which home runs were damaging.
GAME TWO: MELBOURNE ACES 3 defeated BRISBANE BANDITS 2
The Aces made it sixth on the trot with another errorless defensive display behind a quality five-innings start by John Hussey before Trevor Holder and Brett Zawacki iced the game with an innings each in the abbreviated first of the Saturday double-header.
For the visitors, the scoring damage was done in the first, when a one-out Brad Harman double sparked a flurry of offence capped by RBI hits to Ryan Casteel (double) and Josh Davies after a Jared Schlehuber grounder drove Harman across the plate.
Continuing to play an aggressive game against Brisbane starter Craig Goodman, the Aces had a chance of scooting away in the third but were thwarted by a double play and the loss of two runners at the plate in an innings of frenetic activity.
Collecting eight hits to five, the Aces had the better of the scoring opportunities, although the Bandits stayed right in the contest and would be disappointed that they could not convert more productively than a sole run in the bottom of five.
GAME THREE: BRISBANE BANDITS 8 defeated MELBOURNE ACES 3
Down two zip for the series, Brisbane came out firing and chased Melbourne starter Joe Burns from the hill with a six-spot in the second – an outburst constructed around three doubles, two singles, two sacrifice fly balls and a home run by Joey Rickard.
While Yasuhiro Tanaka and Makoto Aiuchi stemmed the flow of runs, the Aces were always chasing tail in being out-slugged fourteen to six, with Ryan Casteel (two-run homer in the sixth) the only multiple hitter for the visitors.
Although the Aces drew back to within three on the Castell blast, the Bandits responded immediately with two more in the equaliser off Corey Kimes.
Living up to a recent Jon Deeble wrap as “the best starter in Australian baseball”, Ryan Searle was quite dominant for Brisbane in whiffing nine over eight innings of work to nail the win for his club.
GAME FOUR: BRISBANE BANDITS 5 defeated MELBOURNE ACES 2
It was looking bright for the Aces when Brad Harman cleared the leftfield wall off Casey Barnes in the first, although the lead was short-lived as Brisbane shrugged off a scoreless first two innings to collar Melbourne starter Freddy Flores.
With two in the third and three in the fourth – including moonshots by Patrick Leonard and Justin OÇonnor – the Bandits burst to a four-run lead that offered Barnes the protection that he required.
While Eric Marzec, Trevor Holder and Justin Erasmus each tossed a scoreless innings, the Aces were unable to convert a golden opportunity in the seventh when they loaded the bases with one out.
Out-hitting the home side seven to six and stranding six runners on base, the Aces had solid contributors in Jared Schlehuber and Justin Trapp – both with two knocks.
