Up two games to one, Oklahoma City sent young right hander Josh Johnson (9-12, 4.75 ) to face Brisbane's Aaron Cook (15-9, 3.76) for a Game 4 showdown.
After the Bison went down in order in the top of the 1st, The Koalas came out hitting. Carl Crawford hit a ground rule double, and was immediately driven in by Joey Votto. Johnson retired the next two batters to get out of the inning down just a run.
For the next several innings, hits were hard to come by. The two starters traded scoreless frames, allowing just 3 hits combined over the first 4 innings.
Brisbane looked like they would push the lead to two in the bottom of the 5th. With runners on 1st and 2nd, Joey Votto hit a line drive to left. The third base coach stopped the slow footed Miguel Montero at third base, leaving the bases loaded for Nick Markakis, who grounded weakly to 2nd for the final out.
The score remained 1-0 heading into the top of the 8th. Lefty Bobby Seay (3-4, 2.74) relieved Cook, hoping to hold the lead. Two deep flies and a ground out put the Koalas back in the dug out, hoping to add to their lead against veteran Takashi Saito (2-3, 5.58).
Despite walking two batters, Saito got out of the inning unscathed. Brisbane closer Huston Street entered to try to nail down the victory, but he would have to face the top of the Bison order. Rollins and Fowler both lined out hard to third base, so it was up to Raul Ibanez. Ibanez also hit the ball to third, but this time a fielding error by Escobar allowed him to reach safely. But Iwamura struck out swinging, and the Koalas held onto the 1-0 score for a victory.
The series is now tied 2-2, with Game 5 in Brisbane (followed by 6 and 7 in Oklahoma City). Aaron Cook got the victory, dominating the Bison lineup for 7 innings, giving up just 2 hits, no runs, no walks, and 6 strikeouts. Josh Johnson was the hard-luck loser, giving up a single earned run on 5 hits, 3 walks, and 5 K's over 7 innings. Huston Street notched his first save of the World Series with a perfect 9th inning.
Probable starters for Game 5 are Game 1 loser Scott Kazmir vs. Sean Marshall.
BOX SCORE
SCORING SUMMARY
BOT 1st
- (0-1) - Joey Votto singled, Carl Crawford scored.
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