The Perth Heat continued their perfect start to the Australian Baseball League season, defeating the Melbourne Aces 3-0 in game one and 9-4 in game two in the weekend's rematch of last year's ABL Championship Series.
Outstanding pitching from two of the ladder-leading Heat's talented Major League prospects boosted the side to a 5-0 season start.
California native Virgil Vasquez, of the Philadelphia Phillies organisation, was named the Championship Series MVP after a dominating performance on the mound against Melbourne last year.
Vasquez picked up right where he left off in game one, pitching a masterful complete game shutout against the Aces to improve his record to 2-0.
He struck out nine Aces batters and finished the game with a minuscule 0.56 ERA.
"I was really hoping we could have a dog pile on Vasquez if he could throw a no hitter," said Heat manager Steve Fish.
"Although he gave up that hit in the sixth inning he came back and he was the same Zen Master that we've come to rely on."
In game two, New York Yankees prospect Anthony Claggett (2-0) was solid over seven innings for the Heat, allowing only three hits and striking out four.
The Heat batters gave Claggett plenty of support, led by Carter Bell, who had two homers on the day.
In Queensland at Redlands Baseball Club, the Canberra Cavalry claimed game one of their two-game road series against the Brisbane Bandits, 3-2.
Right-hander Brian Grening struck out six and allowed only two earned runs in six and a third innings for Canberra to pick up the first win of their season.
However, Brisbane bounced back on Saturday night to edge the Cavalry 1-0 in game two after Chris Smith (2-0) followed up last week's nine strikeout performance with a seven inning complete game shutout.
Smith, who is yet to walk a batter this season, struck out twelve and allowed only three hits in the game to continue his impressive ABL debut.
"Smith was solid last week and even better this week," said Bandits manager Kevin Jordan.
In game three, the Bandits got off to a torrid start with a six-run second inning, but the game was suspended in the top of the fourth inning because of lightning.
The Bandits sit in second place in the ABL standings with a 3-2 record and will take some momentum with them when they travel to Adelaide to face the Bite on Thursday.
Canberra drop to 2-3 and host the Melbourne Aces (2-3) from Friday.
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