Panthers on wrong end of home run derby against Barnstormers
KITCHENER - Nine home runs left Jack Couch Park Thursday night, but it was the reigning IBL MVP making his season debut for the visitors who set the tone early and made the difference for the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers.
Seth Strong hit a grand slam home run in the first inning, and added a three-run bomb as the Kitchener Panthers lost 17-6.
Kitchener got it to 7-4 after the sixth but the Barnstormers scored five in the seventh, sending 10 batters to the plate in the process.
Kitchener got home runs from Yordan Manduley, Yunior Ibarra, Runta Osawa and a pinch hitting Trent Lawson.
Chatham countered with Mitsuki Fukuda's second of the year, and a pair of homers from Spencer Morin.
Andy Vargas took the loss, giving up seven runs off eight hits in six innings of work. He struck out six and walked two.
Aden Ryan got the win, giving up four runs on five hits in 5.2 innings. He struck out five and walked two.
The loss snaps Kitchener's two-game winning streak, as they fall to 8-14 on the year. Chatham-Kent improves to 14-8.
Kitchener has a home-and-home with Toronto this weekend, starting at Christie Pits Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.
Sunday, the Panthers play host at 5 p.m.
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