Panthers squeak by Red Sox in another slugfest
KITCHENER – If you wanted runs, you got them yet again between Kitchener and Brantford.
But despite being up by 10 at one point, Panthers fans were biting their nails by the end with the tying run coming to the plate for the Red Sox in the ninth.
Luckily, Ben Hewitt shut it down with two men on to clinch an 18-15 Panthers win Friday night at Jack Couch Park.
It is Kitchener's first time winning back to back games since late May.
It came on a night where the Panthers didn't hit a single home run. Of their 15 hits, only one went for extra bases, a double in the fourth by Raffi Gross.
Pete Kiefer went with Owen MacNeil on the mound, who only went two innings, throwing 66 pitches, and striking out one. Red Sox manager Terry Smith sent Colbey Klepper to the hill.
One of the hottest bats in the CBL came up clutch in Malik Williams, who went four-for-five with four RBIs, fresh off being named a starter in the upcoming CBL All-Star Showdown in Chatham-Kent.
In the fourth inning, the Panthers had 11 batters step up, and posted a five spot to take a 13-3 lead.
On the defensive side, Owen MacNeil had his share of struggles. He gave up a lead off home run to Jakob Cantor and a two-run shot to Brody Black in the second.
MacNeil was yanked after 66 pitches and 2.2 innings of work, giving up three runs on four hits.
Brantford did not go away quietly though. The Red Sox scored seven in the sixth inning, including a three-run homer from Andrew Savage to make it a 13-10 game.
Samuel Quintana gave up seven runs (six earned) in three innings of relief.
Bawin Colon and Ben Hewitt would also make appearances for the Panthers, as the longevity of the Panthers pitching staff was tested in the late stages.
Kitchener added to its lead late, but Brantford again clawed to within three.
Brantford hit four home runs on the night, including a pair of three-run dingers.
Kitchener improves to 9-14 on the season, jumping over Brantford who drops to 7-13.
Through two games in the season series, the two teams have combined to score 70 runs.
And that is just the beginning for these two teams. They'll meet in a rematch Saturday at 2 p.m. at Arnold Anderson Stadium in Brantford.
They will then meet again back at Jack Couch Park, next Thursday at 7:05 p.m.
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