Streaky Baycats Fall to Cardinals in Hamilton

by Ryan Eakin

HAMILTON - Hot-and-cold.

The Hamilton Cardinals defeated the Barrie Baycats 9-1 on Friday evening to improve to 6-5 on the season.

With the loss, the Baycats fall to 4-6 on the season.

Hamilton southpaw Ben Bruan recorded his second great outing against the Baycats in as many weeks, throwing seven and one-third of an inning of shutout baseball while allowing just three hits and three bases on balls while striking out eight batters.

Cardinals third basemen Josh Niles led the way at the plate, going one-for-two while cashing in a pair of runs.

Baycats starter Hunter Campese went just two innings again, allowing four earned runs on two hits and four bases on balls.

The former Ontario Titan struck out three Hamilton batters.

BARRIE - 1-3-3

HAMILTON - 9-9-2

BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME...

A slow and painful death for the Baycats tonight, who did not allow one "big" play to allow the Cardinals to walk away with tonight's game. Instead, all nine of their runs were scored on individual plays. 

BY THE NUMBERS...

3. A night after exploding offensively, the Baycats recorded just three hits tonight. It seems, as though, the Baycats, who recorded just three hits in Tuesday's loss to the Kitchener Panthers, either put up a crooked number on the scoreboard or go cold completely.

3. Three errors by the Baycats tonight. A strength of the Baycats for years, there is no question the Baycats have to be better defensively than they have been to begin this season.

4. Much-needed given how busy their schedule is this week, Baycats reliever Mason Roberston came in for relief of Campese and gave Baycats manager Josh Matlow four great innings, allowing just one earned run on five hits and zero walks. The Orillia, Ontario native struck out four batters.

5. Making Braun's night easier was the fact that the Baycats had five lefties in their lineup tonight. All regulars in their lineup, the Baycats have struggled against left-handed pitching this season. Coming into tonight's game, the Baycats, as a team, have recorded an on-base percentage of just .324 against left-handed pitching.

NEWS FROM THE GAME...

- The Baycats were being no-hit through five and two-thirds tonight before Baycats left fielder Noel McGarry-Doyle broke up Bruan's no-hitter with a base hit.

- Cardinals outfielder Josh Garton was removed from tonight's game after being hit by a pitch in the bottom of the fifth inning.

- Baycats backup catcher Tyler Plumpton pitched in the bottom of the eighth inning. The veteran catcher threw a scoreless inning while striking out a batter.

NEXT UP...

The Baycats return to action tomorrow night when they welcome the Welland Jackfish to Coates Stadium for the first time this season.

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

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Photo: Bob Hurley/Bob Hurley Photography