Colmenares’ Three Homers Power Giants Past Bandits, 15–2

BRISBANE, Australia — Jose Colmenares homered three times and drove in five runs as the Adelaide Giants (15-16) erupted for seven home runs in a 15-2 rout of the Brisbane Bandits (13-19) on Thursday night at Viticon Stadium.

Colmenares went 5 for 6 with solo shots in the second and ninth innings and a two-run blast in the third – becoming the 15th player to have a three homer game in modern ABL history –  powering an Adelaide offense that scored in five different innings and capped the night with a six-run ninth. Jordan McArdle added a grand slam in the ninth and finished with four RBIs, while Robbie Glendinning, Raylin Heredia and Nick Ward also homered for the Giants, who collected 19 hits.

Adelaide struck quickly against Brisbane starter Kailen Hamson (0-3), tagging the right-hander for seven runs in three innings. Glendinning led off the second inning with a solo homer, and Colmenares followed later in the frame with a two-run shot to make it 3-0. The Giants broke the game open in the third when Heredia hit a two-run homer and Colmenares followed with another two-run blast, pushing the lead to 7-0.

Ward homered in the fourth off reliever Matt Beattie to extend the margin to eight runs. Adelaide added a run on a bases-loaded walk in the seventh and then poured it on in the ninth, highlighted by Colmenares’ third homer and McArdle’s grand slam to right-center.

Jack O’Loughlin (3-3) earned the win for the Giants, allowing one run on five hits over six innings. He walked three and struck out nine. Danyony Pulido and Jason Lott closed it out as Adelaide pitchers combined to strike out 12.

Brisbane’s offense was limited to solo homers. George Callil connected in the fifth inning for the Bandits’ first run, and Rixon Wingrove homered in the eighth. Kyosuke Mashiko had two hits, and Seung-Min Ryu added a single, but Brisbane finished 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position.

Hamson was charged with seven runs on six hits in three innings, surrendering four home runs as his ERA climbed to 16.43. Brisbane committed one error, while Adelaide played error-free baseball. The Brisbane Bandits playoff hopes ride on the outcome of the Perth vs Sydney series where Sydney ideally sweeps Perth and Brisbane need to win against Adelaide.

The battle for playoffs continues tomorrow with first pitch set for 6 p.m. at Viticon Stadium. Fans can watch all the action on Baseball+ while fans in Japan and Taiwan can watch on DAZN Japan.