Panthers De-Clawed By Baycats
In a match up between the two top teams in the IBL you had to figure there wouldn’t be a lot separating each team throughout the game. Sure enough, there wasn’t.
Kitchener and Barrie each received very good pitching on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Yoen Socarras threw 5 quality innings for the Panthers earning a no decision. Adrian Salcedo threw a complete game for the Baycats to earn the win.
Kitchener got off to a hot start against Salcedo with Yorbis Borroto lining a double to start the game. Tanner Nivins brought him home with a RBI single through the hole to left to give Kitchener a 1-0 lead.
Barrie would take the lead in the 3rd, Socarras retired the first two Baycat hitters before running into the only trouble he would encounter all afternoon. Ryan Spataro worked a full count walk and Starlin Rodriguez followed with a single to center. Jordan Castaldo as he has done so often against the Panthers knocked a three run home run that just got over the wall in left to give the Baycats a 3-1 lead.
Kitchener would tie it in the 4th with Tanner Nivins coming around to score on a throwing error by Kyle DeGrace. Zach Johnson hit into a double play but Brian Burton would come in to score to tie the game 3-3.
Barrie took the lead for good in the 6th off of reliever Jas Rakkar. Conner Morro tripled to start the inning and came home on a RBI single by Branfy Infante. Infante then took 3rd on an errant pickoff attempt by Rakkar. It looked like Rakkar would get out of the inning with only one run allowed, Ryan Spataro spoiled that though by lining a two out single to center to bring Infante home and push the lead to 5-3 for Barrie.
Kitchener would only manage two more hits off of Salcedo the rest of the way and couldn’t mount a comeback despite Brady Schnarr, Mike Schnurr, and Miguel Lahera all throwing scoreless innings in the 7th-9th respectively.
The Panthers look to get back in the win column on Thursday July 11th when the Toronto Maple Leafs visit Jack Couch for a 7:30pm start.