Baycats comeback in Game Five, force Game Six Saturday afternoon at home

Hamilton, ON - The Barrie Baycats are bringing the CBL Semi-Final back home.

Facing a five-run deficit after the opening inning, the Baycats battled all the way back and erupted offensively in the middle innings to defeat the Hamilton Cardinals 10-6 in Game 5. The victory cuts Hamilton’s lead in the best-of-seven series to 3-2 and forces Game 6 at Athletic Kulture Stadium in Barrie Saturday afternoon.

Hamilton jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Tyler Duncan, Jaden Brown, Carlos Dominguez, Dario Borrero and Reyny Reyes each drove in runs as the Cardinals put together five runs against Barrie starter Frank Garcés.

Garcés settled in following the difficult opening inning, giving the Baycats an opportunity to work their way back into the game. Barrie finally broke through in the fifth when Hayden Jaco singled home Francisco Hernandez, cutting the Hamilton advantage to 5-1.

The game completely changed one inning later.

Barrie exploded for five runs in the top of the sixth to take its first lead of the night. Noel McGarry Doyle came home on an RBI single from Nolan Machibroda before Ryan Rijo scored when Adam Odd was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Jaco then delivered the biggest swing of the inning, clearing the bases with a three-run double to centre field that scored Francisco Hernandez, Machibroda and Odd and put the Baycats ahead 6-5.

The Baycats weren't finished. Brandon Hernandez singled home Jaco later in the sixth to extend the lead to 7-5. Hamilton answered in the bottom of the seventh when Darlin German tripled home Brandon Nicoll, cutting Barrie's advantage to one.

Barrie responded immediately with three insurance runs in the eighth. Hernandez doubled home Wandy Ciprian before McGarry Doyle delivered a two-run single to right field, scoring Clayton Keyes and Hernandez and pushing the lead to 10-6.

Jaco led the Baycats at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with four RBI, while McGarry Doyle went 3-for-5 with two RBI and Hernandez finished 2-for-5 with two RBI. Barrie finished with 13 hits and scored all 10 of its runs from the fifth inning onward.

Garcés earned the win after battling through 6.2 innings, allowing six runs, five earned, on 10 hits while striking out nine. Boris Vecerka recorded the hold with a scoreless inning out of the bullpen before Carlos Sano closed the door, allowing just one hit over 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the save.

The series now returns to Barrie with the Baycats' season still alive.

Game 6 goes Saturday afternoon at Athletic Kulture Stadium at4:08 p.m., and the Baycats need Simcoe County behind them. Hamilton leads the series 3-2, meaning it's another win-or-go-home afternoon for the Baycats. Pack the ballpark, bring the noise and help push the Baycats toward a deciding Game 7.

Get your tickets now and be there for Game 6 in Barrie.