WEEKEND RECAP: Panthers lose big to end busy stretch

KITCHENER - The Kitchener Panthers capped four games in four days with a scorcher at home Sunday.

But they ended up on the wrong side of the scoreboard against its Highway 7 rival from Guelph.

The good news from the weekend is Kitchener continued its winning ways on Saturdays, picking up a W to salvage a three-game set against the Hamilton Cardinals.

SUN: ROYALS 22, PANTHERS 7

Former league MVP Garrett Takamatsu was as hot as the weather was Sunday afternoon in Kitchener.

Unfortunately, he plays for the Guelph Royals.

The former Maple Leaf hit two home runs, and drove in eight runs for the Royals. 

Former Panthers star Liam Wilson also went yard, his first dinger in a Royals uniform in the win. Andy Leader also burned his former team, garnering four hits on the day.

The Panthers erased a 5-0 deficit, but some big innings for the Royals, including five in the seventh and six in the ninth pushed Guelph over the top.

Ayad Ansari responded in the home run department for Kitchener, a two-run home run in the third that gave the home side its first lead of the game.

Yadian Martinez gave up nine runs (six earned) on 11 Guelph hits in five innings in his fourth start of the year.

The game was delayed for about 20 minutes in the seventh due to an injury to the home plate umpire, who did not return. The rest of the game was played with two umpires.

BOXSCORE

SAT: PANTHERS 12, CARDINALS 4

Saturday's are alright for the Kitchener Pantthers.

Kitchener scored seven runs in the first inning, and that's all they needed to snap a five-game losing skid.

Charlie Towers and AJ Karosas both went yard, while both Yosvani Penalver and Yunior Ibarra drove in three runs.

Owen MacNeil was solid, giving up just one hit and struck out seven in five innings of work for the win, avoiding a three-game sweep the makeshift series against Hamilton.

Kitchener's record on Saturdays are 3-1 this year, including 2-0 at home.

BOXSCORE

FRI: CARDINALS 10, PANTHERS 6

In a game where most of the offence took place early, the Cardinals were able to claim its second straight over the Panthers, this time at Bernie Arbour Stadium.

Newcomer Runta Osawa hit a home run in his first career IBL at-bat, and Yunior Ibarra drove in three runs in the loss. Yordan Manduley went three-for-five.

Carlos Dominguez led the Hamilton attack, going four-for-five with two RBI.

Evan Elliott gave up seven runs on five hits in two innings before getting the hook. 

Steven Hospital got the win for Hamilton, giving up just two hits in three innings in relief.

BOXSCORE

Up next, the Panthers have a busy four-game week, including a three-game road trip.

The week begins at home Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. against the Brantford Red Sox.

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