Baycats Allow Eight Runs in First Inning in Road Loss to Red Sox
BRANTFORD - Bad baseball.
The Brantford Red Sox defeated the Barrie Baycats 8-1 on Wednesday evening to improve to 4-8 on the season.
With the loss, the Baycats fall to 5-8 on the season.
Brantford starter Mike Mueller was sharp on the mound for the Red Sox, going seven innings (plus two batters) while allowing one earned run on ten hits and three bases on balls.
Mueller struck out three Baycats.
Red Sox designated hitter Nick Burdett led the way at the plate for Brantford, going two-for-three with a walk.
Baycats starter Christian Mullen couldn't record a single out tonight.
Mullen, who was signed out of the Greater Toronto Baseball League last week, allowed four earned runs on two hits, one walk, and one hit batter before being pulled from the ball game.
BARRIE - 1-11-3
BRANTFORD - 8-7-0
BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME...
Down 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning, Burdett hit a two-run double to give the Red Sox a 4-0 lead.
BY THE NUMBERS...
2. Two costly mistakes on the base paths for the Baycats tonight. In the top of the third inning, Baycats centre fielder Jake Wilson got caught stealing despite being down 8-0, while in the top of the eighth inning, with runners on first and second and no one out, right fielder David LeBlanc hit a ball to right field that would have been a sure double due to his high-end speed.
However, third basemen Marcel Lacasse had to be held at second base, due to designated hitter Michael Cecchetto have to be held at third base due to his slow speed. Cecchetto ended up trying to run home once he saw LeBlanc round first base, only to be easily throwing out before he could even make it to the plate.
2. Baycats first basemen Ryan Rijo made two errors tonight, doubling his season total in one night. An impressive start to his season at first base here in 2021, Rijo struggled tonight, having two sure-outs pop out of his glove at first base tonight.
2. The Baycats now have the third-worst team ERA in the league, ahead of just the Welland Jackfish and Toronto Maple Leafs. With the Maple Leafs signing former big-league pitcher Chris Leroux today and with the Jackfish making import pitching signings, it is on the Baycats pitching staff to internally turn things around on their own to avoid ending up last in team ERA before season's end.
3. With three errors tonight, the Baycats are now tied for second in the league in errors with 22.
3. Baycats pitching coach and reliever Brad Grieveson pitched in relief on three days rest tonight after throwing 128 pitches in Saturday's loss to Welland. Full credit to Grieveson for stepping up, but he and ace Juan Benetiz cannot be the only workhorse on the Baycats' staff this season.
4. Mason Roberston and Grieveson both pitched four innings in tonight's ball game. The two relievers went a combined eight innings without allowing a run, which was without question the lone bright spot for the Baycats on this night.
NEWS FROM THE GAME...
With Andrew Grieder joining the Baycats this week, and Jaspreet Shergill not too far behind, one would have to think Mullen's start tonight was the one-and-only start he will make this season.
Full credit to Mullen for going out there when the Baycats needed him most, but it showed tonight how large of a gap there is between the Intercounty Baseball League [IBL] and men's leagues across Ontario, as Mullen had put up excellent numbers for the Newmarket Hawks of the GTBL only to be out-classed tonight in his IBL debut.
NEXT UP...
The Baycats return to action tomorrow night when travel to Welland to battle the Jackfish.
The Baycats then return home on Saturday evening to host the Hamilton Cardinals.
For more information, follow the Baycats on Facebook and Twitter at @iblbaycats, on Instagram at @barriebaycats, and on Youtube at Barrie Baycats TV.
And remember to shop at our online shop by clicking here.
Lastly, remember that you can buy tickets to all of our home games here.
Photo: Bob Hurley/Bob Hurley Photography