Three-run homer leads Aussies to thrilling baseball win

[Burgs]

Three-run homer leads Aussies to thrilling baseball win

A miraculous three-run homer by second baseman Luke Hughes handed Australia a 7-4 11th inning win over Venezuela to put them on the cusp of the quarter-finals of the 37th Baseball World Cup.

Having trailed 4-0 early, Australia sealed victory when Hughes delivered a knockout blow at the bottom of the 11th inning - four hours and 12 minutes after the game started.

The Australians are now two wins from three games - they beat Netherlands 4-3 on Thursday - and only need two wins from remaining games against minnows Thailand, Korea, Germany or Canada to advance.

Hughes, who came into the game as a replacement in the seventh inning, was ecstatic with the result after his winning drive over left-field cleared the stadium.

“I was guessing fast-ball and when he threw it, I just tried to put a good swing on it,” Hughes said.

“I knew it (the ball) was gone as soon as I hit it. It was probably the biggest home run I have hit in my life, it felt awesome.”

The young West Australian’s heroics were the fairytale ending to a nightmare start that had the Aussies chasing four runs after the top of the second inning.

In another Group B match on Friday, Korea overwhelmed Thailand 18-2.

Italy overpowered the United States 6-2 in a Group A clash to leave the Americans with a 2-1 record after three games in the tournament.

In other Group A action Spain beat South Africa 7-4.

© 2007 AAP

[Skiza]

I love home runs and when you get 2 or 3 RBI's (runs batted in) from it, you just think......SWEET!!!!!

Well done to the team!!

[bort]

i agree with the face
always good to see aussies doing well in sport, especially west aussies

[LarryNJ]

Good for them! They're calling Korea a minnow? I always thought they were good at baseball.

[bort]

i woulda guessed canada to be reasonable too, due to proximity to the usa, cant say i know too much about baseball but

[pruc]

usa and canada dont perform at a international level very well. because alot of the major league clubs dont release plays. silly ......

great to see a west aussie getting his stats up.

and yes skiza getting RBI's is the best feeling.....apart from hitting homeruns

[LarryNJ]

and yes skiza getting RBI's is the best feeling.....apart from hitting homeruns

Or in this case with Luke a "Walk Off" homerun. A homerun that ends a game.