Panthers get roughed up by league-leading Welland
KITCHENER - It was a memorable Sunday for all the wrong reasons for the Kitchener Panthers.
The Panthers gave up 11 home runs to the league-leading Welland Jackfish in a 30-8 loss at Jack Couch Park.
The game got out of hand early, as Welland had 23 of its 30 runs on the board after the fourth inning, lighting up Panthers pitching and batting around the order in three straight innings.
Starter Owen MacNeil was yanked after recording just five outs, giving up 11 runs (eight earned) on six hits. He walked four in the loss.
Teodoro Ortega gave up two runs on six hits, but struck out eight in five innings of work for the win.
The bright spots for Kitchener came late, scoring six runs in the eighth inning, including home runs from Raffi Gross, Jackson Cooke, Trent Lawson and Petey Kiefer.
Kiefer was a single shy of hitting for the cycle.
The 38 runs scored in the game was a CBL season high, breaking the record of 37 scored in Kitchener's 23-14 win over Brantford on June 18.
Logan Grant had three home runs for the visitors. Ethan Mann, James Smibert and Justin Gideon all had two home run games.
Kitchener drops to 10-20 on the season. Welland improves to 22-10.
With the transaction deadline looming Monday, Kitchener sits seven games out of a playoff spot.
The Panthers are back at it Tuesday at home against Hamilton. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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