Jackfish win another nail biter, take 2-1 series lead

The Barrie Baycats came up just short in a pitchers’ duel Thursday night, falling 3-2 to the Welland Jackfish at Welland Stadium.

Juan Benitez gave Barrie everything they could ask for, working seven strong innings. The veteran right-hander allowed just two runs on six hits, striking out three and stranding six runners. He kept Barrie in the game from start to finish, but the Jackfish finally pushed the deciding run across in the eighth off reliever Ramon Henriquez.

Welland opened the scoring in the third inning. Barrie tied it in the sixth thanks to Clayton Keyes who smoked a towering solo home run — his first of the postseason, but the Jackfish answered immediately with a run in the bottom half to retake the lead. 

In the eighth, Francisco Hernandez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, cashing in the tying run once again. But Welland’s Brendan Luther came through in the eighth with his second hit of the night, an RBI single that stood as the game-winner. Brandon Hupe went 3-for-4 with an inside the park homer.

On the mound, Welland’s ace Teodoro Ortega once again proved tough to crack. The righty improved to 4-0 this postseason, tossing eight innings of two-run ball while striking out eight. Pedro De Los Santos worked the ninth for the save.

Barrie managed just three hits on the night — singles from Brandon Hernandez and Tristan Clarke to go along with Keyes’ home run — and left six runners stranded.

With the loss, Barrie now trails the series 2-1 but will have a chance to respond as the Finals shift back to Athletic Kulture Stadium in Barrie on Saturday. First pitch is set for 4:05 p.m.