BAYCATS HIT THREE HOME RUNS AND BEAT KITCHENER 5-4

KITCHENER – The Baycats got a couple of big home runs which propelled them to a 5-4 win in game one of the second round. Picking up their ace Frank Garcés, Barrie put up some early runs, grabbing the momentum and keeping it for most of the game.

Only two pitchers were used by the visitors as Garcés was able to toss eight innings, striking out five and preserving the lead. Frank earned his second win of the postseason. Brandon Hillier got the save working around a couple of baserunners as he got Elliott Curtis to fly out, ending the contest.

There were four home runs hit this afternoon. Ryan Rijo had a pair of them. His first, a two-run shot, gave Barrie an early lead, and his second, a solo blast, added to the advantage. Avery Tuck, with three well-hit balls today, got one of them to leave the yard in the fifth, scoring James Anderson in front of him. Kitchener's big fly came off the bat of the red-hot Marcel Laccasse, a three-run shot that kept the game close. Laccasse now has three home runs and ten runs driven in during this year's playoffs.

Panthers starter Yadian Martinez, despite allowing five earned runs over six innings, struck out nine hitters and surrendered zero walks. Martinez was charged with the loss. One of the keys to today's Baycats victory was their ability to keep Raul Gonzalez out of the hit column, including getting him to ground into a double play in the first inning. Four out of the 13 home runs Gonzalez hit this season came against Barrie.

With the win, the Baycats have taken a 1-0 series lead over the Panthers as they head back home for game two. That game will start at 3:05 p.m. at Vintage Throne Stadium. Get your tickets here or watch the game live on Baycats TV.