Kitchener loses in Guelph, will play Welland in first round
KITCHENER - Kitchener needed a bit of help, but couldn't take care of business Saturday night in Guelph in a last ditch effort for seventh place.
After going up 5-1 on a three-run home run from AJ Karosas, the Royals came back nine straight runs - six in the sixth inning - as part of a 12-6 Panthers loss at Hastings Stadium.
Yunior Ibarra also went yard in a not-so-hitter-friendly ballpark in the loss.
Mateo Zeppieri, Yosvani Penalver, Petey Kiefer and Trent Lawson all had two hits each.
Owen MacNeil went five innings, striking out five while giving up four runs on five hits.
Brett Reid took the loss, giving up five runs on two hits and recorded just one out before he was pulled.
Kyle Thomas got the win for Guelph. He gave up all six of Kitchener's runs on nine hits, walking and striking out one.
The result, combined with Toronto's home win Saturday over Brantford, means Kitchener is locked into eighth place and have a first-round matchup with Welland.
The Jackfish will provide the competition in Kitchener's regular season finale Sunday at 2 p.m.
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