Red Sox SP Josh Laukkanen got roughed up for eight runs as the Brantford Red Sox dropped a 12-3 decision to the last-place Kitchener Panthers on Friday, June 28, 2024.
The Panthers struck first in the first inning. With Simon Grinberg on first base with one out, he stole second but scored after an errant throw to the outfield by Red Sox C Jeremie Veilleux. Despite the run, Laukkanen escaped further damage as he retired Raul Gonzalez and Nick Parsons.
Kitchener continued to pounce on the Red Sox in the next inning. After consecutive singles by Ryan Burnside and AJ Korasas, Spencer Ross hit an RBI single, allowing Burnside to score from second base. Three pitches later, Jett Jarvis hit an RBI single of his own and drove Ross home from second base.
In the third inning, the Panthers expanded their lead to 4-0 with an RBI single from Yunior Ibarra. After a clean fourth inning, Laukkanen and the Red Sox got rattled in the fifth. In what has been an ongoing issue for most of the game, the Panthers found paydirt despite Laukkanen managing to get the first batter out. This time, the visitors scored three runs, courtesy of RBI singles from Gonzalez and Ibarra and an RBI double by Burnside. Through five innings, Kitchener had a commanding 7-0 lead.
Laukkanen was relieved for Nathan Clarke after hitting the only batter he faced (Spenser Ross) in the sixth inning. Despite the pitching change, the Panthers continued to mount their offensive assault on the Red Sox pitching, scoring two more runs in the inning.
The Red Sox’s offence was stymied by Panthers’ starter, Dakota Parsons’ over his five innings. The team produced only two hits in that span. But the Red Sox solved Parsons and scored two runs by Nick Burdett and Jeremie Veilleux.
After a scoreless seventh inning, the Panthers increased their lead to double digits in the eighth inning, courtesy of a two-run RBI single from Nick Parsons and an RBI double by Spenser Ross. In the bottom half, the Red Sox returned a run with Nick Burdett’s second RBI of the contest.
Josh Laukkanen (2-2) took the loss for the Red Sox as he gave up eight runs on eleven hits (two strikeouts) through five-plus innings.
