Late lead evaporates in loss to Chatham-Kent
CHATHAM-KENT - A four-run eighth inning for the Chatham-Kent erased a late Kitchener lead, as the Barnstormers closed out a 7-4 decision Saturday at Fergie Jenkins Field.
Kitchener had a 4-3 lead after the seventh, but Danny Garcia got roughed up in the eighth and took the loss.
Evan Elliott struck out six through six innings of work, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits.
The Panthers got on the board early, as Mateo Zeppieri slapped the first pitch of the game over the fence, his sixth of the season.
Zeppieri went two-for-five. Trent Lawson also got two hits, and Yunior Ibarra went three-for-four.
Eric Pettipiece struck out three in the eighth and got the win. Garret Day collected his sixth save of the season, blanking the Panthers in the ninth.
Kitchener drops to 14-21 on the season, a game and a half back of seventh place Toronto, who won Saturday.
The Panthers remain 6.5 games up on Brantford and still haven't officially clinched a playoff spot yet.
The Panthers host Barrie Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
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