Barnstormers double up on Panthers

KITCHENER - The long ball has been beneficial for the Kitchener Panthers.

But for the second straight game, multi-run home runs going the other way was the difference as the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers put a trio over the Jack Couch Park fence in a 12-6 decision Thursday.

Two of the visitors' home runs were three-run blasts late in the game.

Kitchener was also adept at three-run shots, hitting a pair of their own, including one from Nick Parsons, who extended his home run streak to three straight games.

Parsons' home run gave Kitchener a 3-2 lead after the first inning, and things were leaning toward a high scoring affair.

But Brock Whitson settled down for the Barnstormers after the first, giving up the three runs on seven hits through seven innings of work for the win. He recorded five strikeouts.

It was 5-3 heading into the seventh, when Robert Mackie hit a solo dinger for Chatham-Kent.

The teams would trade three-run homers in the eighth. After Seth Strong hit his IBL-leading 10th HR of 2024, Eric Martin answered for the Panthers with his first of the year to make it 9-6 Chatham.

It looked as if the Barnstormers would have to turn to its closer for a save, but Braxton Haggith put the lead back to six with a three-runner of his own in the ninth to seal it.

Pedro De Los Santos recorded the loss, going six innings of nine-hit ball. He gave up five runs (three earned), while walking three and striking out two.

Parsons extended his hitting streak to seven games, while Blake Jacklin kept things rolling, now with a hit in four straight.

Raul Gonzalez went two-for-three with a walk, and has hits in five of his last six outings.

Kitchener goes on the road in Brantford Friday at 8 p.m.

BOXSCORE

GAME REPLAY