09/02/2023 1 Minute Read

Adelaide Giants win Australian Baseball League

The Giants won back-to-back games on home turf after falling behind. Jordan McArdle combined three homers and earned MVP honours.

The Adelaide Giants defeated the Perth Heat to win the Australian Baseball League final series and claim the 2022-23 Claxton Shield.

After a 160-game regular season, four teams qualified for the semifinals. Adelaide defeated Auckland Tuatara, while Perth eliminated the Brisbane Bandits.

After losing the first game on the road, Adelaide clinched the title with back-to-back wins over Perth.

Five pitchers limited Perth to five hits in game two, with reliever Mitch Neunbom going three innings for the win. Right fielder Jordan McArdle put the Giants ahead with a three-run homer off Gunnar Kines in the bottom of the first. Adelaide added four runs on four solo home runs (by McArdle, left fielder Quincy Latimore, center fielder Jared Carr and designated hitter Jarryd Rogers) in the bottom of the fourth.

Four relievers shut out Perth in game three, with Adam McKillican going 2.1 innings for the win. Perth took the lead against Jack O'Loughling, but McArdle homered in the bottom of the second off Brock Gilliam to tie the game. Carr put Adelaide ahead with an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth, and the Giants added a couple of insurance runs in the eighth on a double by Rixon Wingrove and a defensive error.

A total of 8,000 spectators attended the three games at Empire Ballpark in Perth and Bennett Field in Adelaide.