By Lance Jenkinson
Melbourne Aces are playoff bound after winning three out of four matches against Adelaide Giants in their final home series of the regular season in the Australian Baseball League.
The Aces have firmed for one of the prime top three positions in the playoffs that would see them avoid a sudden death wildcard game.
The Jon Deeble-managed Aces hold the equal second-best record in the league along with the Perth Heat, but those two sides will duke it out in a four-game series at Perth’s Harley-Davidson Ballpark starting on Thursday night to determine which one goes straight through to the semi finals and which one is wildcard bound.
Melbourne Aces will take strong form into the series in Perth, having got the better of an Adelaide team with the best record in the league.
In the series opener on Thursday night, the Aces created separation with a three-run seventh innings en route to a 5-2 win.
Middle relief pitcher Scott Mitchinson picked up the win for the Aces. Shane Robinson and Jared Cruz had two-hit games for the Aces.
In game two on Friday night, Melbourne Aces led all the way for a 7-5 win.
The consistent Aces scored runs in six innings.
Starting pitcher Darin Downs claimed the win for the Aces.
In game three on Saturday, Melbourne Aces went down for the first time in series, losing 8-6.
The Aces had a never-say-die attitude, putting up four runs in an entertaining ninth inning, but the deficit was too great to bridge.
The final game of the series on Sunday was also a special one for the Melbourne Aces.
The Aces held their BlazeAid game to raise money for victims of the devastating bushfires.
The last home game of the regular season was a good one for the fans with the Aces claiming a 2-1 win to take the series.
