GK DOWNED IN THRILLER
GEELONG-KOREA suffered its third-straight Australian Baseball League loss after a thrilling extra-inning defeat to Brisbane in Queensland last night.
GK took the lead with a three-run 10th — with international tiebreak rules in play — but was unable to close out the contest as the Bandits walked off 8-7.
Wade Dutton’s sacrifice fly ended the contest and sent Geelong-Korea to sixthstraight loss against the fourtime defending champions.
GK fell behind early but took a late lead before the extra-innings drama.
Chang-ki Hong drove in a run in the top of the seventh to give the visitors their first lead of the game but it did not last long. Reliever Tae-seung Jung walked the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh to give the hosts a shot at returning fire.
Kih-yun Yang entered the game and turned a double play.
It allowed the Bandits to pull level but alleviated some of the pressure on GeelongKorea. Yang struck out Andrew Campbell to end the threat but the run proved enough to force extra innings.
GK worked from behind for a second-consecutive night after Brisbane scored three first-inning runs.
Mitch Nilsson singled to open the scoring ahead of former big leaguer Mike Marjama blasting a two-run homer.
Byeong-woo Jeon pulled a run back in the top of the second with his first ABL home run.
Dae-ryuk Kim started the fifth with a single as GeelongKorea rallied. He scored on Joo-hyung Kim’s double to centre field to cut the Bandits’ lead to one. Jeon drove in another run on a two-out single to pull GK level.
Hong delivered with two outs in the seventh.
Geelong-Korea starter Inbeom Kim recovered after conceding early to work six innings. The right-hander struck out eight and allowed the three runs on seven hits.
The series wraps up with a doubleheader today. First pitch is at 3.30pm.