![]() Jared Cruz (SMP IMAGES/ABL MEDIA
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Jared Cruz's three-run bomb set the tone for Melbourne as they romped home to an 18-12 win against rivals Geelong-Korea, setting up a chance to seal the series win in tomorrow's series finale.
The Aces (8-3) were on fire from Saturday night's first pitch at Melbourne Ballpark as Cruz, Darryl George, Jake Romanski, Rudy Martin and Garrison Schwartz all homered on a night where no pitcher on either side lasted more than three frames.
Luke Hughes and D.J Burt continued their strong starts to the season by both reaching base in the first inning.
Hughes' double (2-for-4) drove in Burt (2-for-4, two walks) and moved his season RBI total to 10 from just 11 games.
Geelong-Korea (2-9) hit back in the third with three runs as they took a 4-2 lead but it was short lived as the Aces bats came alive in the fourth and fifth innings.
Cruz (4-for-5, two home runs and six RBI's) sent the crowd wild with his blast in the fourth only to be followed by Romanski (1-for-5) and Schwartz in the fifth, the latter's two-run shot giving him four RBI's on the night as he went 3-for-5 on the night.
Aces pitchers struggled despite the win, allowing 10 hits and six walks. Blake Townsend started but lasted just two innings, relievers Blake Cunningham, Luke Abels and Liam Evans combined for 10 runs allowed.
GK starting pitcher Na-On Gil threw just three innings as he was roughed up for six runs, allowing six baserunners total. The visitors pitching staff surrendered a combined 15 hits and five walks in a forgettable performance.
Seung-Hun Kim was Geelong-Korea's best swinging the bat, as the third going 2-for-5 with a grand slam and a season-high six RBI.
The series wraps up in Sunday's finale, scheduled for 1:00pm local time at Melbourne Ballpark.
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