The Buenos Aires Brisas got a magnificent effort from pitcher Alberto Castaneda, who kept Sydney hitters in check en route to a 3-1 Brisas win at Estadio Rico. Castaneda picked up the win for Buenos Aires, going 5.1 innings. He gave up 1 run on 4 hits. He now sports a record of 3-5. Alfonso Castillo locked down his 13th save.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Brisas grabbed the lead when Sergio García rapped a two-out double. Buenos Aires was trailing 1-0, when García hit a 2-run double off Dorian Tzannetakis to put his team in front, 2-1. Afterward, Brisas manager José Ramos was ebullient. "That was a fun game to coach," he told a group of reporters, adding, "I hope it was just as fun to watch."
The Brisas, at 32-45, sit in 7th place in the GBC. The Sharks fall to 32-45 on the seasons and sit dead last in the GBC.
The Sharks started the game well, jumping out to the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Jim Ashford connected on a 3-0 pitch to single and score Lorenzo Cardenas after he stole second. But that's all the Sharks would muster as they were shut out the next eight innings.
Dorian Tzannetakis started for Sydney and pitched 5.0 innings while allowing two runs on five hits with four walks and three strikeouts. However, he'd be credited with the loss and falls to 3-4 on the season.
The Sydney Sharks had no problem beating the London Monarchs, 11-2, at Blacktown International Sportspark. Jim Ashford led the way. He was 3 for 4 with 2 doubles and a walk. He scored 2 times and drove in 3 for Sydney. Sydney occupies last place in the GBC at 31-45.
With scoring opportunities rare, the Sharks had to cash in when they had the chance. One such opportunity presented itself in the bottom of the fourth when catcher Enrique Mendoza hit a 2-run single. The single came off Hassan bin Zuhair and made the score 4-1, Sharks. Mendoza was 2 for 5 with 2 singles. He drove in 3 runs and scored once. London manager Jack Gulliver called the blowout loss "a real stinker."
Aside from Ashford, Lorenzo Cardenas went 3 for 5 with three runs on the day. Niegloslaw Woywitka has been the one bright spot on the Sharks pitching rotation, moves to 7-4 on the season. He pitched 7.0 innings while allowing two runs on five hits with six strikeouts and a walk.
Pitcher Steven Callahan was rock solid in helping the London Monarchs beat the Sydney Sharks, 5-1. In 8.1 innings, Callahan surrendered 4 hits, while striking out 3 and walking 1. He allowed 1 run. London is now 43-37, while Sydney is 31-46.
The Monarchs benefited from an error in the top of the fifth inning. London was leading 1-0 when Jae-hyung Chi hit a 2-run single that was misplayed. It put London in front, 3-0.
"Winning is contagious," said Chi. "We're looking forward to the next game."
The Sharks lone run came in the bottom of the fifth inning off a solo home run by secondbaseman Geaney Fay, his 19th of the season. Starter Rowan Tucker picks up the loss for Sydney, falling to 4-10 on the season. Tucker pitched 6.0 innings while allowing three runs on five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.
Jae-hyung Chi was a vital contributor to the 8-1 London victory over Sydney. The Monarchs first baseman was 2-5 with a home run, while scoring 2 runs and driving in 3. Roberto Banda picked up the win, improving his season record to 1-0. He struck out 1 in 5.1 innings. London, at 44-37, holds down third place in the GBC.
London used the bat of Mauro Felman to get the win. The right fielder hammered a 3-run home run in the top of the fourth inning to put the Monarchs ahead, 3-0. It was his lone hit in 4 at-bats, but it did its damage.
Said losing manager Raúl Cruz: "Give the Monarchs credit. They took advantage of our mistakes."
The lone run for Sydney came off the bat of Milojica Kraljevic in the bottom of the sixth inning, he hit a double that would score Jim Ashford and cut the lead to 4-1. The Monarchs added four more in the top of the ninth inning for the 8-1 win.
Saku Hakkila was on the mound for Sydney and pitched 7.0 innings while allowing four runs on six hits with three walks and six strikeouts. Hakkila falls to 6-5 on the season.
In baseball, each game is unique. This one was no different.
Jerusalem Hebrew Hammers starter Denzel Loxton was dealing. He helped his team knock off the Sydney Sharks, 9-1. Loxton went 5.1 innings to notch the win. He scattered 5 hits, walked 2, and struck out 6. His record improves to 1-0.
Though it wasn't a flawless game -- few are -- the fans who filled the stands at The Holy Land seemed to enjoy watching the Global Baseball Consortium action. "We took it on the chin today," said losing manager Raúl Cruz.
Today's win puts Jerusalem at 40-42, while Sydney falls to 31-48.
The lone run for Sydney came in the top of the fourth inning off the bat of Eduardo Herrera, as he singled to score Geaney Fay.
The season continues to be a tough one for Sydney starter Tomislav Coslovich, as he left today's game with an injury and has been diagnosed with a herniated disc in his back. He's expected to miss a month or more of action. Before he was injured he pitched 2.2 innings while allowing six runs on seven hits with a walk and five strikeouts. Denzel Loxton picked up the win for Jerusalem. The starter lasted 5.1 innings while allowing one run on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
Normally if you score nine runs, you'd expect to win. But this is the Sydney Sharks we are talking about, a six-run bottom of the ninth gives the Hewbrew Hammers the 12-9 win. Nick Sneddon was a major factor in that win. The Hebrew Hammers left fielder was 3 for 5 with a home run and a double, while scoring 2 times and driving in 5. Jerusalem reliever Francisco Molina picked up the win to move to 3-4. You-cheng Hang suffered the loss and moves to 2-5. The winning streak has now reached 4 games for Jerusalem. Both starters left with a no-decision. Dorian Tzannetakis for Sydney, pitching 5.0 innings while allowing five runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Negussu Osahar was on the mound for Jerusalem, pitching 3.0 innings while allowing seven runs on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
The game came to a dramatic end. In the bottom of the ninth, with Jerusalem trailing 9-8, Sneddon hit a fastball from Fernando Guerrero for a grand slam home run, giving the Hebrew Hammers the walk-off win. "Exhilarating win," said Sneddon.
In other Sharks news this week, after going 4-10 this season with a 5.79 ERA, the Sharks have designated Rowan Tucker for assignment and placed him on waivers. With Tomislav Coslovich going on the IR, the Sharks have recalled starting pitchers Brodie Diprose and Miguel Sánchez from AAA Lagos Wreckers.
