Armstrong’s Three-Run Homer Lifts Heat Past Bandits 3-2

PERTH, Australia — Byron Armstrong hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning and the Perth Heat held on to beat the Brisbane Bandits 3-2 on Thursday night at NSR Hire Ballpark.

Armstrong turned on an 0-1 pitch from Kailen Hamson and drove it to center field with two outs, scoring Nicandro Aybar and Drake Logan for the game’s only runs until the sixth. It was Armstrong’s first home run of the season and accounted for all three Perth runs.

Tucker Smith (4-2) earned the win for the Heat, allowing one run on four hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out five. Warwick Saupold worked the final two innings for his fourth save, giving up one unearned run while striking out three.

Hamson (0-2) took the loss after surrendering three runs on three hits in four innings. He walked two and struck out six. Brisbane’s bullpen kept the game close, with Kai Wynyard, Seung-Won Hong and Sam Holland combining for four scoreless innings and no hits.

Brisbane got on the board in the sixth when Rixon Wingrove doubled to right, scoring Max Durrington. The Bandits pulled within one in the eighth on Seung-Min Ryu’s RBI single to right that brought home Dermot Fritsch, but Saupold stranded the tying run in the ninth.

The Heat finished with just three hits but made them count, while Brisbane went 2 for 7 with runners in scoring position and left seven on base. Perth improved to 12-15, while the Bandits fell to 12-16.

The Bandits will return to action tomorrow with a doubleheader against the Perth Heat with game one set for 6:00 p.m. with game two to follow. Fans can watch all the action on Baseball+, while fans in Japan and Taiwan can tune in on DAZN Japan.