 Stefan Welch swatted his fourth home run of the year on Thursday. (Ryan Schembri / SMP Images)
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After loading the bases and failing to score in the top of the first inning, the Blue Sox committed three errors in the bottom half of the frame. The defensive miscues, paired with three hits and a walk, aided the Bite to a 4-0 advantage after just one inning of play. In the bottom of the second, Adelaide struck again, this time on a solo home run off the bat of Stefan Welch.
Sydney closed the deficit in the third inning behind a pair of home runs. David Kandilas hit his second dinger of the year, a solo shot, down the right field line to lead off the inning. Then, with two outs and Zach Penprase on third base, Geoff Klein deposited his second home run of the season over the left field fence for a 5-3 ballgame.
Those would be the only runs the visitors would tally however, while the South Australians added to their lead in the fourth and sixth innings. In the fourth Nathan Melendres homered to left field for a 6-3 lead, before Ben Lodge doubled in the sixth, scoring Melendres and closing the scoring at 7-3.
Zac Fuesser (3-3) earned the win for Adelaide, surrendering three runs on six hits in five innings of work. Craig Anderson (5-2) lost his first start since 3 November, allowing six runs (two earned) on eight hits in five innings of work, while tying a season-high with six strikeouts.
Seven players recorded a hit for Sydney, with Kandilas finishing 1-for-3 with two walks while Penprase stole his league-leading 11th bag. Melendres went 3-for-5 for Adelaide, leading their 12-hit attack.
The two teams are back in action for their sixth consecutive game against each other tomorrow night. Three-time league Pitcher of the Week Chris Oxspring (3-1, 1.84 ERA) takes the ball for Sydney, while righty Seon Gi Kim (1-0, 3.94 ERA) gets the ball for Adelaide in game two of the four-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. local time at Norwood Oval.
