Baycats Outslug Maple Leafs 14-8 in Game one, lead series one game to nothing

Barrie, ON – You want offence, we’ve got offence.

A total of 22 runs crossed home plate in Thursday's Baycats win, 14-8 over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game one of the first round. Barrie scored 13 runs in the first four innings and never looked back.

It is crazy to think that, with a game like this one where runs were scoring left and right, we saw a gem on the mound. Frank Garcés started and was the standout on the bump in the contest. Garcés tossed six innings of shutout baseball, surrendering three hits and two walks. This marked the fourth straight Game one win for Frank, dating back to last season.

All the scoring by the Baycats was done early, including a pair of five-run innings. Brandon Hernandez drove in seven runs with a two-run single in the second, a bases-clearing double in the third, and another two-run base hit in the fourth. Adam Odd recorded four hits, and Nolan Machibroda smoked a long home run to left centre.

The minimal noise from the few Maple Leafs fans was quieted as, time after time, the crowd at Vintage Throne Stadium erupted as their team performed exceptionally. Toronto starter Angel Castro was on the wrong side tonight, allowing 12 earned runs and was charged with the loss.

Leafs relievers Alex Lanigan and Landon Leach were solid out of the bullpen and kept the Baycats off the scoresheet in the later innings. Toronto’s six-run top of the ninth – led by Mike Cecchetto’s grand slam – was not enough, as Ryan Lacasse used whatever else he had in the tank to close out the game, earning a three-inning save.

Baycats win 14-8.