LATE GK CHARGE COMES UP SHORT
GEELONG-KOREA fell to four-time defending champion Brisbane in its first road game of the Australian Baseball League season last night.
GK’s offence fired late but it was not enough as it fell 5-3 at Holloway Field in Brisbane.
Ji-hwan Bae blasted a tworun shot in the top of the eighth to break up the Bandits’ shutout ahead of Chang-ki Hong’s RBI-single with Geelong-Korea pulling within a run.
Wade Dutton singled to bring home an insurance run for Brisbane in the bottom of the eighth and the two-run lead held up.
GK managed two hits through seven innings as it failed to back a strong start from Kyun-eun Noh.
Noh worked effectively through five innings, but the Bandits got to him in the sixth to turn a one-run advantage into a four-run lead.
He allowed a lead-off walk to Andrew Campbell ahead of Mitch Nilsson singling to put two runners on.
Former big leaguer Mike Marjama took advantage, doubling to drive in a pair of runs and make it 3-0.
Another former big leaguer ended Noh’s night.
Donald Lutz singled to drive in the third run of the inning and make it 4-0 and chase the right-hander from the game.
Noh’s offence struggled to get on base and support his strong start.
The 35-year-old went 5 1/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits and a walk. He struck out five.
Il Heo recorded GeelongKorea’s only hit the first time through the order against Bandits’ starter Cory Taylor.
Taylor went six innings, allowing only two hits and striking out eight.
Earlier, Jeremy Martinez’s two-out ground-rule double scored the opening run of the ballgame after Marjama stole second to move into scoring position.
The series continues tomorrow night at 7pm AEDT.
GK is chasing its fourth win in six games to start its second ABL season.