An unbelievable start from Travis Blackley, 4RBI from Luke
Hughes and a grand slam from James Beresford saw Australia claim a vital
victory over China in game two of their World Baseball Classic campaign.
James Beresford made his big league debut in 2016, and
showed his big league talent on the world stage tonight, depositing the first
pitch of his at bat over the right field fence for a grand slam which slammed
the door shut for China.
Another man with big league talent is Travis Blackley. Blackley
threw 4.2 scoreless innings, only giving up two hits and giving Australia every
chance to succeed in a must-win game. Blackley’s efficiency was a highlight,
only tossing 48 pitches in an outstanding performance.
Perth Heat legend and MLBer Luke Hughes lit up the Tokyo
Dome with a two run home run in the third to open the scoring, and followed it
up with a double in the seventh, finishing with 2 hits and 4 RBI on the night.
Team Australia Manager Jon Deeble spoke about what it would
mean for Australia to make the second round.
“It’d mean the world to Australian baseball to make the
second round,” Deeble said.
“It’d be the biggest thing since winning silver at the 2004
Olympics. Blackley was super efficient tonight and we got everything out of
him. Our bats came alive and it’s really comforting we swung the bats well..”
After originally being left off the 28-man roster, utility
Trent D’Antonio showed he can match it on the biggest stage. The Sydney Blue
Sox stalwart lifted one into centrefield, which dropped just in front of Yang
and saw Harman and Kandilas score and D’Antonio slide into third safely,
extending Australia’s lead.
Australia’s final pool game of the World Baseball Classic
sees them take on world #5 Cuba. The first pitch of the ballgame will take
place at 12pm local (2pm AEDT). Make sure you tune in via ESPN Australia/NZ,
check your local guides.
A gallant Australian team kept in touch with world #1 Japan
for most of the game, however two late home runs saw Japan claim a tense 4-1 victory at the Tokyo Dome.
Allan de San Miguel stunned the 40,000 strong crowd at the
Tokyo Dome, with a solo home run in the second inning. De San put a charge in a
ball that landed just over the fence in right field, and gave Australia an
early lead.
In his first ever World Baseball Classic appearance, Tim
Atherton starred, tossing four innings, only giving up one earned run. The
right-handed Kempsey native ran into some trouble early, however proved a
consistent handful for the talented Japanese hitters, finishing with two
strikeouts.
Team Australia Manager Jon Deeble was thoroughly impressed by the team’s performance.
“Sugano was throwing up to 97mph tonight, that’s tough to hit in the big leagues,” Deeble said.
“I thought our guys had some really good at-bats tonight, we really took it up to Japan and swung the bats pretty well.”
A young star on the rise in Australian baseball, Lachlan Wells
looked right at home on the world stage. The 19-year-old Minnesota Twins
prospect struck out two Japanese hitters in two innings of relief, as well as
not allowing a base-runner.
Two home runs late saw Japan edge ahead with Sho Nakata’s seventh
inning solo shot followed by a two run blast from Yoshitomo Tsutsugoh in the
eighth inning.
Australia’s next game at the World Baseball Classic sees
them take on world #18 China, with the game shown live on ESPN. First pitch is
scheduled for 7pm local (9pm AEDT).
Sunshine may have entered Game 1 of the Division 2 Finals Series boasting the best pitching staff in the league but it was Upwey's Jarred Turner that owned the night, guiding the Tigers to a first up 2-0 win, leaving them just one win away from a Division 2 Premiership.
Upwey’s two-run fifth inning was to be the night’s only score as Turner completely shutdown the dangerous Sunshine bats.
The right-hander's game was simply breathtaking, allowing just three hits and striking out seven in a 116-pitch complete game shutout. His performance, arguably the best showing from a Division 2 pitcher all season.
Sunshine’s Taylor Rowe would pick up the loss but was far from disgraced. The league’s leading strikeout pitcher fanned six in his 5.2 innings but would give up Upwey’s two runs on eight hits.
Jordan Elliot was the pick of the hitters for Upwey, picking up two hits on the night and reaching base a third time with one of the games few walks.
FULL STATS AND SCORE FROM GAME 1
WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE FOR SUNSHINE?
It’s a pretty simple equation for the Eagles. They simply need to get on base more.
Managing just three hits on the night was uncharacteristically low for this quality Sunshine outfit. With one of the league’s most dangerous hitting line-ups I can’t see them being overpowered again in Game 2.
Expect them to be back in the cages later in the week and come out swinging some aggressive bats on Saturday and with Jared Van Hoon slated to start Game 2, we could be in for yet anothe rpitcher's duel.
CAN UPWEY WRAP IT UP IN TWO?
Absolutely they can! The Tigers managed nine hits against a quality pitching outfit and were made to earn their runs. They are a dangerous team with base runners and aren't afraid to sacrifice outs to move runners across and keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Evan Phillips will be Upwey's likely Game 2 starter with Upwey's game style well and truly suited to playing tight finals baseball.
Game 2, Saturday 11 March, 1.00PM
Game 3 (if required), Sunday 12 March, 1.00PM
All games played at Melbourne Ballpark.
FULL GAME 1 STATISTICS VIA iSCORE
With only one hit, they need to find their bats. A strong running team, Melbourne’s strength is their ability to put runners on and build pressure with their superior leg speed. Scott Moore in particular is a barometer for this team and a weapon on the base paths. When he gets on, Melbourne have a tendency to score him with Moore leading the league in both runs scored (26) and stolen bases (15).
Four errors on the night didn’t help the Demons cause, but don’t expect this quality outfit to make that many errors for the rest of the Series.
CAN ESSENDON WRAP IT UP IN TWO?
Why not!
The Essendon monster continues to just get better in the face of adversity. Every time their challenged, they find a way to overcome it and just keep winning ballgames.
This is a team that hit’s through all nine spots in their line-up and with Michael Formisano, Luke Abels, Liam Bedford and Casey Jones yet to be sighted in the Grand Final Series, the Bombers will have plenty of well rested pitching staff ready to go for Game 2.
Game 2 is scheduled for 4.00PM this Saturday 11 March
Game 3 (if required) is also scheduled for 4.00PM on Sunday 12 March
Despite some tense moments late in the game, Australia held on for a 1-1 tie with the Orix Buffaloes at the Kyocera Dome.
Both teams had the winning run on third base in the final inning of the ballgame, with Australian pitcher Josh Tols escaping a bases loaded situation with one out in the bottom of the ninth.
Team Australia scored their first run at the Kyocera Dome in the first inning, with Tim Kennelly driving in David Kandilas care of a sacrifice fly to centre field. Orix struck back swiftly, with a sacrifice RBI of their own in the bottom of the first.
MLBer’s Peter Moylan and Warwick Saupold both saw time on the bump, their first appearance of the pre-World Baseball Classic tour. Saupold gave up Orix’s first run, while Moylan claimed a strikeout and gave up a hit in his inning of work.
Following both teams picking up a run in the first inning, the hits dried up, with a combined two hits in the final five innings proving the dominance of both pitching staffs.
Team Australia Manager Jon Deeble was really pleased with his team's defensive output in his team’s final pre-World Baseball Classic warm-up game.
“I thought our pitching was fantastic tonight,” Deeble said.
“It was an outstanding effort defensively, to give up only two hits through seven innings was really promising. It's not easy to get hits facing these types of pitchers, they're very talented with their split finger fastballs, it's not easy but we're making a lot of progress.”
Australia had a chance to go ahead in the final inning, with Mitch Dening aboard via an error. Dening got as far as third base, but Logan Wade was the third out of the inning, as Australia couldn’t capitalise on the opportunity.
Australia now travels to Tokyo, where they will play Japan, China and Cuba at the World Baseball Classic. Australia’s first game sees them take on host nation and world #1 Japan, with every Australian game shown live on ESPN Australia/NZ. Tune in live at 7pm local (9pm AEDT) on Wednesday 8 March to see Team Australia begin their World Baseball Classic.
Preview of Australia vs. Orix Buffaloes.
WATCH: https://youtu.be/vKWQwKHdKcw
Warwick Saupold and Peter Moylan chat about their experience in the MLB, and the upcoming WBC.
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8AtESgECTs
Jon Deeble after the team's first warm-up game in Japan against the Hanshin Tigers.
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOs0PfsdTsA
Australia vs. Hanshin Tigers match report.
READ: http://baseball.com.au/News/Latest-News/australia-drop-opening-game-in-japan-against-hanshin
The importance of unity for Team Australia.
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgQeqPMspvM
Preview of Australia vs. Hanshin Tigers.
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_Szlj5EEeU
Team Australia practice at Nissay Training Facility.
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c18xzzpJ8E
WA's Tom Bailey at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka.
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6349DkIMQAA&
Jon Deeble wraps up the Korean leg of the World Baseball Classic tour.
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6DejmYO0Io&
Australia vs. Korea match report.
READ: http://baseball.com.au/News/Latest-News/aussie-fightback-not-enough-as-korea-claim-win
Logan Wade after the unforgettable baseball clinic with the Yan Jun-Hyuk Baseball Foundation
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKg6leQawXw
Australia vs. Hongik University match report.
READ: http://baseball.com.au/News/Latest-News/australias-wbc-tour-off-to-perfect-start
Travis Blackley ahead of the World Baseball Classic
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM52nbatcKU&
After taking Game 1 of the series in a score of 5-2, the Bombers returned home looking to wrap it up in front of a home crowd but they weren’t to have it all their own way.
A three-run top of the first from Fitzroy off the back of a walk and four first inning singles had the Lions up and about before a Liam Bedford triple helped tie it at three all at the end of one.
Unfazed by the Essendon onslaught, the Lions put on three more in the second and another in the third to take a 7-3 lead through the first three frames.
Luke Abels entered the game for the Bombers, relieving Michael Formisano. Abels had arguably one of his best outings for the year, steadying the Bombers through his five innings of relief work, conceding only one hit, no runs and striking out five.
Extra base hits to Scott McIntyre and Ross Bament closed the gap in the fifth and before Ross Bament picked up his second hit of the afternoon to put Essendon ahead in the seventh with a two-run single to right.
From there, the ball was handed over to Kyle Bedford to close the door on the Lions season with a walk the only blemish on his two innings of relief.
Dean McIntyre was the pick of the hitters for Essendon with three singles on the afternoon, while Scott McIntyre and Ross Bament picked up two each. For the Lions. Tom Wilson and Joel Mackenzie each recorded multiple hit games.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| Fitzroy Lions | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 4 |
| Essendon Bombers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | - | 8 | 12 | 1 |
The Bombers will now look to break their own record, entering this week’s Grand Final series in search of their sixth consecutive Division 1 Premiership.
To win it, they’ll have to get through a red-hot Melbourne Demons outfit.
Also back at home for Game 2 of their Semi Final Series, Melbourne took a the 4-1 victory over Blackburn on Saturday, to also wrap up their series in consecutive games.
The Demons scored one run in the fourth on a single to Alex Hondromatidis and three runs in the sixth inning, 2 on a single by Mitch Ayres.
Shane Kraemer the match winner for Melbourne, earning the win for the home side with his eight-inning start, allowing zero runs, two hits, and striking out eight. Liam Devine threw two-thirds of an inning, with Matt Blackmore closing as the two relievers helped Melbourne finish off the victory and put an end to Blackburn’s season.
Nathan Harris took the loss for Blackburn. He tossed four and two-thirds innings, allowing one run, five hits, and striking out seven.
Melbourne collected eight hits. Mitch Ayres, Matt Kent, and Alex Hondromatidis each collected 2 hits, while Sam Boone & Oliver McMahon had 1 each.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| Blackburn Oriels | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Melbourne Demons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | 4 | 8 | 1 |
Australia ran into a red hot Hanshin pitching staff in their first game of their tour of Osaka, and eventually were defeated 3-0 at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka.
Luke Hughes collected a double in the first inning for Australia, and when Shun Takayama nailed a double in the first at bat of the ballgame, signs were ominous for Team Australia. Australian starting pitcher Travis Blackley worked himself out of the early trouble though, and finished the inning unscathed.
Hanshin scored runs in the second, third and fourth inning, with Yusuke Oyama claiming two hits and an RBI from his first two at-bats. Offensively for Australia, Luke Hughes, James Beresford, Mitch Dening and David Kandilas were the four men to claim hits, with Dening picking up two.
Team Australia Manager Jon Deeble was pleased with getting the guys out there.
“We wanted to make sure we got all of our players and position players in the game and we did that,” Deeble said.
“There are a few things we still need to work on, we took way too many fastballs early in the count. We didn't swing the bats early enough in the count and we want our guys doing that – and we didn't do that tonight."
Twice Australia managed to get their leadoff man aboard, but struggled to move the runner over, with neither inning yielding any runs.
Australia’s pitching staff held Hanshin at bay after the fourth, with Lachlan Wells, Ryan Searle, Steve Kent and Josh Tols all throwing scoreless innings.
Australia scattered base-runners in the late innings, with David Kandilas chipping in with a two-out single, but struggling to string hits together brought the Aussies undone.
Australia’s final pre-World Baseball Classic tune up comes against Orix Buffaloes, another top professional Japanese team. Australia and Orix clash on 6 March at 7pm local (9pm AEDT).
