Baycats win 13-10
The Barrie Baycats made the most of their nine lives on Wednesday night at Christie Pits.
Tied or trailing for the entire game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the 'Cats scratched out four runs in the ninth inning to take a 13-10 win and stretch their record to 7-0 to start this IBL season.
On a cool, dry night at the Pits, the Leafs squandered a 6-RBI monster night by Johnathan Solazzo (above right). Toronto's slugging third baseman blasted a grand slam in the first inning off Barrie starter Emilis Guerrero for a 4-0 home lead.
Newcomer Zach Sloan made his Maple Leafs debut on the mound. Barrie clawed back three runs in the top of the second off the southpaw, and it was a 4-3 game after two. The way both teams were swinging, seasoned Pits watchers knew that a double-digits final score was in the offing on this night.
Two more runs for the triple blue in the bottom of the third. Catcher Justin Marra singled and moved to second on a wild pitch. First baseman Tyler Hardie walked and second baseman Dan Marra singled to load the bases. Clearly having an off night, Guerrero then walked DH Daniel Szpik and Justin trotted home. The next man up was shortstop Ryan White, who singled in another run and the Leafs led 6-3 through three.
The home side added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth. Left fielder Grant Tamane and centerfielder Connor Lewis each singled to start off the inning. Justin Marra then drove them home with a 2-RBI double. Marra himself would be driven in by Solazzo and the Leafs enjoyed a 9-3 lead through four. That ended Guerrero's night, and he was relieved by Brandon Catena who got out of the inning.
Barrie got a couple of runs back in the top of the fifth to make it a 9-5 game.
Sloan pitched into the top of the sixth before getting into a jam that ended his night. He gave up a couple of doubles that resulted in a run. Manager Damon Topolie called for Pedro De Los Santos from the bullpen, but the reliever was unable to slam the door shut. Barrie tacked on three more runs and it was a 9-9 ballgame through six.
The game remained deadlocked and the tension kept ratcheting up until the bottom of the 8th. After two scoreless inning pitched by Claudio Custodio, Cole White took to the mound for the visitors. He struck out Tamane, but then gave up a single to pinch hitter Greg Carrington, who followed up by stealing second. Solazzo returned to the plate and calmly smacked an RBI double that scored Carrington. 10-9 Leafs and the 'Cats down to their last life.
The sweet ending turned sour for Toronto in the ninth. The three-time defending champs showed their credentials by racking up four runs off three hits, two walks and an error. De Los Santos took the loss in a 13-10 final as the Leafs could not respond in the bottom of the ninth. Enerio Del Rosario came in to record the save for White.
W - White (1-0, 9.00)
L - De Los Santos (0-1, 4.82)
BOXSCORE
The Leafs hold onto 4th place in the IBL standings despite the loss, with a record of 5-4. Their next game is on the road to face the Kitchener Panthers on Thursday, June 8.
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