Seoul (Korea). A grand slam in the third inning gave Australia an early lead en route to an 8-1 win over the Netherlands on Monday morning at Mokdong Stadium. Two runs in the sixth and ninth provided some insurance against a Dutch team, which remains winless in the XXV IBAF 18U Baseball World Championship. Australia improved to 2-2 in Group A, keeping their chances alive to reach the final round.
After a pair of scoreless innings to start the game, Australia loaded the bases with no outs in the third. Aaron Sayers got to the plate and smashed the second pitch of his at bat over the fence in right field for a grand slam homerun, the first in the event.
A two-run single by Ben Leslie in the sixth and a RBI triple by Zac Shepherd with a following groundout by Sayers in the ninth provided some insurance for the team from Australia. The Dutch squad only was able to avoid the shutout, scoring their lone run on a successful executed double steal with two outs in the bottom of the fourth.
Otherwise Australia’s pitching was in full control. Dean Aldridge, Sam Holland, Matthew Wilson and Joshua Guyer combined to keep the Dutch offense to five hits, one run and five walks in nine innings. Aldridge got the win after striking out six in five frames. Maickel Rietel gave up the grand slam in the third, getting charged with the loss.
