Baycats Make Eight Errors in Extra Innings Loss to Red Sox

by Ryan Eakin

BRANTFORD - Yikes.

The Brantford Red Sox defeated the Barrie Baycats 7-6 in 11 innings on Friday evening to improve to 6-15 on the season.

With the loss, the Baycats fall to 10-12.

Brantford third basemen-turned reliever Jason Pineda picked up the win, tossing the final three innings of tonight's ball game while allowing one earned run on one hit and two bases on balls.

The native of Bronx, New York struck out four Barrie batters.

Red Sox centre fielder Gianfranco Morello went hitless through his first five at-bats before hitting a walk-off base hit in the bottom of the 11th inning to secure the win for the Red Sox.

Barrie closer Brandon Hillier took the loss, tossing two innings while allowing zero earned runs on two hits.

It was his defence that let him down tonight.

BARRIE - 6-9-8

BRANTFORD - 7-9-2

BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME...

Morello's walk-off hit takes the cake for this one, but an honourable mention has to go to Baycats shortstop Mike Duwyn recording an error on what should have been the last out of the ball game in the bottom of the tenth inning to secure the Baycats the win.

In Duwyn's defence, he is not a natural shortstop and was willing to play out of position tonight to help his team, as many members of the Baycats infield had to do on this night.

BY THE NUMBERS...

1. As written above, the Baycats were one out away from winning tonight's game before the eighth and final error of the Baycats' tonight occurred.

2. The lone bright spot tonight? Baycats southpaw Andrew Grieder was dominant in his return from injury, tossing two scoreless innings while striking out four Red Sox batters.

4. After Baycats second basemen Royce Ando had to leave tonight's game with an injury, Baycats manager Josh Matlow inserted catcher/corner outfielder Jake MacDonald into the game at second base, due to the fact that he had no one else that was capable of playing second base at his disposal. 

The issue, is, MacDonald is not a second baseman in his own right and it showed with his four errors tonight. MacDonald's end-of-season error total will be misleading, as he has provided terrific defence in the outfield this season, a position that he is natural in.

The lack of infield depth goes back to the Jalir Bentacourt Lopez fiasco at the beginning of the Baycats' season. Tonight's four errors are not on MacDonald, who cannot be asked to play second base again.

8. The Baycats made eight errors tonight. Eight.

NEWS FROM THE GAME...

- As written above, Ando suffered an injury in tonight's ball game. The former Canadian National Junior Team star took a ball to the face on a stolen base attempt in the bottom of the second inning. No word yet on the extent of his injury. He joins shortstop Owen Jansen on the injured list, who will miss the remainder of the Baycats' season with an injury. 

- On a positive note on the injury front, the Baycats got Marcel Lacasse and David LeBlanc back tonight after being out the last two weeks with injuries. 

Baycats shortstop Carson Burns is expected to return soon, too.

NEXT UP...

The Baycats take on the first-place London Majors tomorrow night from Coates Stadium in Midhurst.

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Photo: Bob Hurley/Bob Hurley Photography