Australia’s pitchers laid the platform for a nail-biting 5-3 extra innings win over Canada in their second game of Round 2 action at the 2009 World Baseball Cup.

 

It was the Aussies’ defence which secured the win, allowing only 7 hits in 10 innings of play, while the Canadian defence also quieted the Australian bats who have been in excellent form throughout the tournament. 

 

Australia now sits atop Group G alongside the US with the top four teams in the group to progress. Two wins from their remaining five Pool G games should see the A-Roos safely through to the final group stage, featuring the best 8 teams in the world.

 

In a game that was a pitchers duel, Australia’s hurlers starred with Adam Blackley starting, delivering 7 strike outs while allowing only 4 hits for 1 run in 5 and 1/3 innings. Australia’s relievers then combined to throw the final 4 and 2/3 innings, allowing just 2 hits and 2 runs between them.

 

With scores tied at 1 run a-piece coming into the top of the 9^th, Luke Hughes homered to left field to give the Aussies a one run advantage. Canada’s Tosoni then replied with his own homer to end the 9^th at 2-all and send the game into extra innings using the tie breaker rule.

 

Australia finished strongly in the 10^th, scoring 3 runs after starting the innings with runners on 1^st and 2^nd. Brad Harman’s sacrifice bunt sent the runners to 2^nd and 3^rd before Daniel Berg singled through left field, allowing Beresford to score, giving the Aussies a 1-run lead and allowing them to apply scoreboard pressure. A fielding error by the Canadians then allowed Berg and Kimpton to score before the Canadians wrapped up the innings facing a 2-5 deficit.

 

Despite scoring off a sacrifice fly, the Canadians were unable to get anybody else across home plate and pitcher Matthew Williams closed out the game for the 5-3 win.

 

The A-Roos now take on Chinese Taipei tonight and are hoping for another victory following their 7 – 5 victory in first round group play.

 

For full game results CLICK HERE