American pitcher Virgil Vasquez shackled Melbourne's batters as he helped Perth Heat to a 4-1 win in the first game of the ABL championship series.
Former Major League pitcher Virgil Vasquez produced a great lockdown effort to steer Perth Heat to a 4-1 win over Melbourne Aces in game one of the Australian Baseball League championship series at Barbagallo Ballpark on Friday.
Seeking back-to-back titles, minor premiers Perth can clinch the best-of-three series with another win at the same venue on Saturday.
A mid-season addition to the Heat roster, American Vasquez struck out eight batters and yielded just one run and five hits in pitching the complete game.
"It was a real fun game, a lot of special moments out here," Vasquez told Fox Sports.
His impressive work was only spoilt by a second innings home run over left field from catcher Kevin David.
Perth's powerful batting lineup gradually chipped away at Melbourne's former Major League pitcher Travis Blackley, who gave up four runs and and nine hits in seven innings.
The Heat opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, capitalising on singles to Mychal Givens, Brenden Webb and Tim Kennelly.
David levelled the game in the second innings, but Perth regained the lead in the fourth when James McOwen blasted a Blackley pitch over the right field fence.
The Heat made it 3-1 in the sixth when Allan de San Miguel doubled and came home on a single to left field to McOwen.
Perth completed the scoring in the seventh when Givens came home on a single to left field by Kennelly.
American outfielder McOwen notched three hits and third baseman Kennelly two.
"I was in the same position last year though, we won the first game and lost the next two, so it's a little bit of an eerie feeling," said McOwen, who was in the Adelaide side beaten by Perth for the 2011 title.
"But I don't think it will be deja vu."
David and shortstop Dominic Ramos each had two hits for Melbourne.
