Australian Baseball League

SYDNEY, 8 December - The Sydney Blue Sox (9-8) were unable to recover from a four-run inning by the Canberra Cavalry driven by Rolfe Renault (9-7), as the visitors claimed a 6-2 victory on Saturday night at Blacktown International Sportspark.

Despite Chris Snelling reaching base five times, and three scoreless innings from Josh Guyer in relief, Sydney could not overcome the four-run deficit, a lead that proved too large for the Blue Sox.

First to cross the plate for Canberra were runners Kohei Shibata and Adam Buschini, who were driven in by K.C. Hobson. The lead stretched to three as Michael Wells added an RBI-double, scoring Hobson. The Cavalry surged again, as catcher Jack Murphy drove home the visitor's fourth run.

Sydney responded in the fourth, scoring two runs. Singles to Shane Benson, JD Williams and David Kandilas loaded the bases, before Sydney scored their first run as Zach Penprase drove in Benson. The scoring continued after Canberra's Chris Motta walked Snelling, scoring Williams for Sydney's second run. Unfortunately for the home side, they would be the only runs they would score to cut the Canberra advantage in half at 4-2.

"We dug ourselves in a hole early and we just couldn't respond," Blue Sox manager Jason Pospishil said. "It's a recurring theme that we couldn't get a hit in a key situation. I thought Josh Guyer was outstanding, however. He was able to come in and kept us in the ball game."

Rookie Guyer pitched three scoreless innings, giving Sydney an opportunity to fight back late. The young righty showed great command, allowing only four hits, with one strikeout.

Canberra extended the lead with a two-run ninth, as Murphy drove in Hobson and Wells. Motta (1-0) earned the win, allowing two runs in five innings. Cavalry closer Sean Toler sealed the win with two strikeouts and his seventh save in the bottom of the final inning.

Sydney's Tim Cox (1-2) would take the loss, pitching five innings, for seven hits and four runs. After Guyer's three scoreless innings, Caleb Cuevas surrendered the final two runs of the game, pitching the ninth.

The battle of the Hume Highway continues tomorrow with game four at 12:30pm at Blue Sox Stadium. Tim Atherton takes the ball for Sydney (1-0, 1.42 ERA) against Canberra's John Holdzkom (0-1, 9.72 ERA).