Baycats Survive Late Collapse, Walk Off Panthers for Second Straight Win

Barrie, ON — “Ugly” was how Baycats manager Josh Matlow described Tuesday night’s game between the Kitchener Panthers and the Barrie Baycats. After blowing a 5-0 lead, Barrie still found a way to win, walking off Kitchener 6-5 in extra innings for its second straight walk-off victory.

Offensive opportunities were hard to come by early, as both teams were held scoreless through the first three innings. The Baycats had a golden opportunity to strike first in the bottom of the third, putting runners on second and third with nobody out, but were unable to capitalize.

Barrie found itself in a nearly identical spot an inning later, again placing runners on second and third with nobody out. After back-to-back strikeouts, it appeared another scoring chance would slip away, but catcher Wandy Ciprian came through with a clutch two-out, two-run single to give the Baycats a 2-0 lead after four innings.

The Baycats added to their lead in the fifth inning. After a leadoff single from Noel McGarry Doyle, Brandon Hernandez drove him home with an RBI single to make it 3-0. Later in the inning, after Francisco Hernandez reached with a single, Nolan Machibroda delivered another clutch two-out hit, lining a two-RBI single to score both Hernandez brothers and extend Barrie’s lead to 5-0.

While the offence broke through midway through the game, Baycats starter Juan Benitez was dominant from the opening pitch. Benitez carried a no-hitter through five innings, allowing just one baserunner over that span.

Kitchener finally broke through in the sixth. After collecting its first two hits of the game and drawing a walk to load the bases, Petey Kiefer ripped a line drive deep to the outfield that looked destined to clear the bases. However, a perfect relay led by centre fielder Edgar Figueroa cut down the trailing runner at the plate, limiting the damage to two runs despite an error later in the inning.

Benitez still turned in a quality start, finishing with six innings pitched, allowing three hits and two earned runs while striking out three and walking two.

The Panthers continued to chip away in the seventh. After new Barrie pitcher Braedan Pakkala issued a pair of walks, Kitchener successfully executed a double steal. Ciprian’s throw attempting to catch the runner at third sailed into left field, allowing an unearned run to score and cutting the Baycats' lead to 5-3.

Breidy Encarnacion took over in the eighth and ninth innings, but Kitchener tied the game in the eighth, thanks in part to more defensive miscues from Barrie. After a hit batter and a single opened the inning, Panthers batter Mark Williams lined a ball to right field that was dropped by Clayton Keyes, allowing another run to score and trimming the lead to 5-4. Barrie again managed to limit the damage by throwing out another runner at home on the play.

The tying run came later in the inning. With runners on first and third and two outs, Panthers runner Yosuke Fujie stole second base. Barrie attempted to throw through to catch the runner, but Ciprian’s throw skipped into centre field, allowing Malik Williams to score from third and tie the game at 5-5.

Despite the collapse, Encarnacion settled down to throw a scoreless ninth inning, finishing with one earned run, one unearned run, three strikeouts, and just one hit allowed.

The bottom of the ninth brought even more drama. After a borderline full-count pitch to Keyes was called strike three, Brandon Hernandez was ejected from the on-deck circle for arguing balls and strikes, forcing infielder Noah Hull into the game.

That move ended up playing a key role in the final outcome.

After Baycats closer Carlos Sano stranded the ghost runner in the top of the 10th inning, Hull was placed on second base to begin the bottom half. Figueroa then dropped down a perfect bunt single toward third base. Panthers third baseman Fujie elected to still make a throw to first base, but bounced it into right field, allowing Hull to race home with the winning run and seal another dramatic walk-off victory for Barrie.

With the win, Barrie improved to 3-1 on the season, while remaining undefeated at Athletic Kulture Stadium at 3-0. The loss for the Kitchener Panthers dropped their record to 3-2, snapping their three-game winning streak.

Barrie Closer Carlos Sano earned his second straight win of the season, while Panthers pitcher Jake Liberta was tagged with the loss.

Barrie looks for their first road win of the season Wednesday, when they travel to Christie Pits Park to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs for the second time this season, with first pitch slated for 7:30 p.m. EST. 

Baycats Manager Josh Matlow confirmed after tonight’s game that Baycats ace Frank Garcés will get the Start for Barrie in Toronto.