BAYCATS IMPROVE TO 9-4 AFTER 7-3 WIN OVER PANTHERS

BARRIE – The Barrie Baycats have defeated the Kitchener Panthers 7-3 and improve to 9-4 on the season. Barrie’s starting pitching depth was on full display, as Cesar Rosado and Juan Benítez were the only arms used by the home side.

“He’s excited to pitch,” said Baycats manager Josh Matlow on Cesar Rosado. “That’s all I can ask for as a manager.” Rosado picked up the win, tossing six innings, allowing a pair of runs, and struck out six.

However, Kitchener would get to the Baycats starter early on a sac fly from Simon Grinberg. Three innings later, a solo home run from Raul Gonzalez would make it 2-0 Panthers. 

The lead did not last long though, as in the bottom half of the inning (fourth), Nolan Machibroda came up with Noel McGarry Doyle on second and hammered one out to left centre for a two-run shot, tying the game.

“He made a little mistake, left a little curveball up too high, and I put a good swing on it,” said Machibroda on his home run against Panthers starter Pedro De Los Santos. De Los Santos was charged with the loss after throwing five and a third and giving up five earned runs.

Machibroda, after being sidelined for a few games with an oblique injury, made his presence known tonight, scoring a pair of runs to go along with his fourth-inning missile. The 24-year-old leads the Baycats with three home runs.

Carson Burns also had a big game, driving in two along with a pair of hits. His fifth-inning two-run single proved to be the difference in the game. Burns said postgame that the decision to move him up to the second spot helped boost his confidence.

“You get a hit in your first at-bat [and] your playing with house money the rest of the day,” said Burns. 

The recent heat wave and the mosquitoes did not stop the Baycats, as they went on to win 7-3 and improve to 9-4 on the season. Barrie is back in action this Saturday at home against the Hamilton Cardinals.

Photo: Bob Hurley