Perth 7, Melbourne 6 (13 innings). The teams were tied at three after one inning, Melbourne took a 6-3 lead after three, Perth came back to tie it after five, and there things stood until the thirteenth. Perth won the game on a Twins-like rally: James McOwen was hit by a pitch, went to second on a sacrifice bunt, took third on a ground out, and scored on a wild pitch.
Mychal Givens led Perth with a 4-for-5 day, getting two doubles and two singles. Ex-Twin Allan de San Miguel hit the game’s only home run, a two run shot for Perth in the first. Perth starter Geoff Brown surrendered five runs (four earned) on five hits and two walks in 1.2 innings, but the Heat bullpen bailed them out. Jacob Clem gave up one run on four hits and two walks in 6.1 innings of relief. Brendan Wise pitched a perfect ninth. Jack Frawley then came on for Perth and went the final four innings, giving up just one hit and striking out four to get the win.
For Melbourne, Jack Givens went 4-for-6. Elliot Biddle singled and tripled, driving in three. Melbourne starter Jeff Jamnik yielded five runs on eight hits in four innings. Bubbie Buzachero took a tough loss, giving up just two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out seven in eight innings of relief. Andrew Russell threw the game-ending wild pitch. Joshua Hendricks went 1-for-6 and scored once for Melbourne.
The win gives Perth the Australian League championship. The Heat won the best-of-three series two games to one.
I watched this game on MLB Network yesterday beginning in the 4th inning because I was so starved for baseball. Wise threw a couple of absolutely nasty sinkers at about 91mph. Hendricks wasn't particularly impressive. Also, Perth had hung Luke Hughes's jersey in the dugout and some players were rubbing it for good luck.