Div 1 Blackburn 1 lost to Melbourne 4. Tues 20th Jan 2015 #vsbl
Interview with Matthew Kent of Melbourne. Can't see the player? Click here.
Blackburn travelled to local rival and second placed Melbourne in a midweek clash that saw the best of Victorian baseball on display.
Top 1st- David Tierney lead off with an infield hit in the hole for Blackburn. However, the lefty Kraemer (on the hill for the Demons) picked him off. After Andrew Tierney got on with an error a pop up and a strikeout swinging ended it and sent us to the bottom of the frame. Score 0-0
Bottom 1st- Berka started for the Orioles and looked good as he got the first out with a K swinging. Moore earned a walk and Kent singled to right after a long at bat with a couple of hit and run attempts. There were then runners at 1st and 2nd for Burton who walked to load them up for Blackmore with one out. He flied out to shallow right and Moore was unable to score from 3rd. Ayres then doubled with two out and scored 3 runs. Melbourne 3, Blackburn 0. Berka regained his composure and finished with a fly ball to right.
Top 2nd- Kraemer was looking sharp with a lead to defend and sat the batters down in order.
Bottom 2nd- Squire walked to start the dig then Aron got on after a fielder’s choice and a missed double play at 1st. The Demons continued their form with the bat when Boone singled to right and it was 1st and 2nd occupied with one out. Berka straightened up for the Orioles and was landing his curve for a K and the 2nd out. David Dicker finished it when he robbed Kent of a hit with a good sliding catch in front of him in left.
Top 3rd- Cartright got on with one out after an infield error but got caught in a run down play making it the 2nd successful pick off for Kraemer of the Demons. Another ground ball finished it there.
Bottom 3rd- Burton walked for the Demons but then got doubled off after an impressive running catch and throw by Bumpstead in right field for Blackburn. A groundout ended it there.
Top 4th- Kraemer racked up another strikeout as he sat the batters down in order for the second time in the game.
Bottom 4th- Hondromatidis hit to left to start it for the Demons but got caught stealing 2nd after a very accurate throw from Hunter in the Orioles dish. Aron walked but a fly ball to centre was the third out and he stayed where he was.
Top 5th- Bumpstead hit a hard single to left with one out but ran into a fielder’s choice at 2nd. Berg did well to beat the relay throw at 1st but Kraemer had too much control and ended the dig with a K looking.
Bottom 5th- Melbourne continued with no addtion to the score.
Top 6th- Andrew Tierney of Blackburn hit well to right but Nathan Aron ended his hopes of scoring with a great catch in left for the third out.
Bottom 6th- Hodgson took the mound from Berka of Blackburn. Scott Moore singled to right and scored pinch runner Shiels after Aron hit safely and there was a walk. Burton got HBP to increase the pressure on the Orioles but Hodgson was good enough and got a grounder to 2nd to end it there.
Top 7th-Blackburn weren’t done as Hunter singled to left to start it off. Bumpstead hit deep to centre with one out then Berg scored the pinch runner on a sac fly. Kraemer steadied after that and the innings grounded out with 15 minutes to play.
Bottom 7- Mitchell John took the mound for Blackburn and Shiels got a two out hit to left. The young pitcher did well and got a grounder to 3rd base to leave the runner on.
Three routine outs and Kraemer proved himself with a complete game, one run, winning performance for Melbourne. A good effort by the Demons batters as well considering the business end of the season looms.
Melbourne defeated Blackburn 4-1.
Report by Cam Gleeson