GARCÉS DEALS, BAYCATS HIT THREE HOMERS IN 7-3 WIN OVER PANTHERS

BARRIE – Three home runs and a masterclass performance from Frank Garcés led the Barrie Baycats to a 7-3 win over the Kitchener Panthers. Things got a little shaky in the top of the eighth but the Baycats got through it, mirroring their first win against Kitchener this season, just a few weeks ago.

Barrie scored three in the third and two more in the fourth. Panthers starter Yadian Martinez was phenomenal but the Baycats took advantage of the one inning he was not. Five hits and a walk off Martinez who had trouble finding the strike zone as the line kept moving. Canice Ejoh’s two run home run in the fourth capped off the scoring early on.

From that point on, Martinez got better and better, striking out six. His counterpart Frank Garcés kept pace, matching the Panthers lefty with six punchouts of his own. Garcés also did not walk a batter, picking up his fourth win of the season.

Brandon Hernandez, Malik Williams, and Nolan Machibroda each drove in a run in that third inning. Noel McGarry Doyle added to the lead with his second home run of the year in the bottom of the seventh.

Ryan Lacasse came in to work the eighth but ran into a big jam as he walked in a pair. Carlos Sano was called in and got the Baycats out of the frame, limiting the damage to three runs. 

One impact bat the Baycats have been searching for was Ryan Rijo, and he delivered in the bottom of the eighth with just his second big fly of 2024, one that cleared the scoreboard in right field. If Barrie can get his bat going, watch out.

Sano worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning, earning the save.

Baycats win 7-3, they are 14-8.