It took a marathon 13 innings, but Perth Heat have moved to within one win of the Claxton Shield after overcoming Adelaide Giants 4-3 in the Australian Baseball League Championship Series.

Empire Ballpark was the location for an instant ABL classic on Friday night, as Cincinnati Reds prospect Carlos Sanchez’s walk-off double clinched a game one victory over the reigning champions.

The extra innings win lasted more than four hours after the scores were locked at 3-3 for the final three innings, before the deadlock continued for another three-and-a-half innings in overtime.

With the clock ticking past 11pm, Sanchez stepped up and doubled on a ground ball, triggering a Rauselis Martinz two-base run to home plate and a field invasion from the Heat players and staff.

In what was billed as a battle of the pitchers, Adelaide utilised seven throwers to Perth’s six, with the Heat’s Tom Bailey showing nerves of steel in the final three innings and striking out three batters.

All eyes were on Adelaide’s league MVP Lachy Wells, but it was Perth’s starting pitcher Tyler Beardsely who matched him, striking out five batters in his five innings.

The Heat hit the lead with a two-run second inning as Nehomar Ochoa Jr. drove in Jess Williams, before Sanchez passed on the favour to Ochoa.

Perth captain Tim Kennelly made his presence felt once again at the top of the fifth as he singled to allow Ochoa Jr. to run home and give the Heat a 3-0 lead.

But Adelaide were not done, and the league’s best team in the regular season refused to go down without a fight as Liam Spence singled to make it 3-1 at the top of the sixth, before Quincy Latimore’s double in the same innings tied up the scores.

What followed was a six-and-a-half inning stalemate which raised the stakes and anxiety levels around the ground.

The Giants had a chance to take the lead in the seventh when Andrick Nova and Nick Ward combined to load the bases, but Perth pitcher Yuchi Shiota held firm to get a strikeout and a vital third out.

As the game creaked into overtime, neither side were willing to give an inch as Perth got runners on bases, only to be thwarted by some excellent Giants defence and great pitching by reliever Todd Van Steensel.

Conversely, Bailey surrendered little on the mound, recovering from giving up a double to Rixon Wingrove by producing three quick outs.

Then it came to the bottom of the 13th, as Martinez was walked before advancing to second thanks to Williams’ sacrifice fly, before Sanchez ground to his left to seal the victory.

Game two will take place in Adelaide on Saturday night.