Castaldo Powers Baycats Past Panthers; Now One Win Away From Tying Red Sox Streak

MIDHURST - One to go.

The Barrie Baycats defeated the Kitchener Panthers 8-2 on Saturday evening to take a 3-0 series lead in their best-of-seven league championship series.

Baycats starter Adrian Salcedo recorded the victory, tossing seven innings while giving up one earned run on six hits and one base on balls while striking out four batters along the way.

Baycats first basemen Jordan Castaldo led the way at the plate, going three-for-five with one strikeout. 

Panthers starter Yoen Socarras took the loss, tossing five innings while giving up three earned runs on seven hits and one base on balls while striking out six batters.

KITCHENER - 2-9-0

BARRIE - 8-13-0

BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME: Up 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Baycats centre fielder Ryan Spataro hit a bases-clearing triple to centre field to give the Baycats a 6-1 lead.

NICEST PLAY OF THE GAME: In the bottom of the third inning, Baycats second basemen Starlin Rodriguez hit what looked to be a sure double before Panthers centre fielder Tanner Nivins made a sliding catch to rob Rodriguez of an extra-base hit.

BY THE NUMBERS: 6. With a win tomorrow night in game four, the Baycats will tie the 2008-2013 Brantford Red Sox with six straight Intercounty Baseball League championships, which is the league record. 

NEWS FROM THE GAME: With Baycats first basemen Jon Waltenbury absent again due to a personal matter, Baycats left fielder Glenn Jackson made his final debut.

He made a massive impact, going two-for-three with a base on ball while striking out once.

Nivins, meanwhile, exited the game for the Panthers in the top of the fourth inning after crashing into the centre field fence attempting to catch a Castaldo double.

QUOTES FROM THE GAME...

Baycats general and field manager Angus Roy on Salcedo: "He went out there and gave us zeroes for the first four innings," said Roy. "That kind of gets you going because it looked like we were going to be in a really good position.

"He didn't walk many guys tonight, which I thought was the biggest difference from when he was getting into trouble in some of his last starts. 

"...He was outstanding."

Castaldo on His Massive Night: "I felt good," said Castaldo. "I picked up that guy [Socarras'] pitches pretty early because it didn't seem like there was much of a chance in speeds between his pitches. 

"At the end though, I just tried to put a good swing on it and you catch a barrel. It is what it is, right?"

Roy on Being One Win Away From A Historic Title: "My mood doesn't change before any game," said Roy. "You get butterflies because you still love the game but I just try and go through all the matchups that may end up happening. 

"This is the reason why we play. Guys come here because they want to win a championship and we have an opportunity to tomorrow night, but our approach will not change because we do not want to give that team over there any life. That is a really good baseball team over there, so we would love to wrap this up tomorrow night.."

NEXT UP: Game four of this series takes place tomorrow evening from Jack Couch Park in Kitchener.

First pitch is set for 7:00 PM.

For more information, follow the Baycats on Facebook and Twitter at @iblbaycats and on Instagram at @barriebaycats.

And remember that you can buy tickets for all of our home games online HERE.

Photo: Brian Backland/Brian Backland Photography