Kitchener Panthers pulled further ahead of the Brantford Red Sox for the final playoff spot after defeating them 4-3 during Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) action on Saturday, August 10, 2024.
Entering the game, the Panthers and Sox were separated by only one game for the eighth and final playoff spot with only a handful of games left in the season.
Red Sox SP Jeremias Sucre got the start the home team and had a solid first inning, only allowing a leadoff single before retiring the side in order. In the bottom half of the first, the Sox recorded two quick outs before getting three consecutive singles to take a 1-0 lead.
Sucre had another good start to the second inning, recording two quick outs then the Panthers strung five straight hits together, including a double and four singles to take an early 2-1 lead. Brantford couldn’t muster any offence in their half of the inning, going down quickly, three-up, three down.
Kitchener continued to get timely hitting in the top of the third, getting another double and an RBI single to open up a 3-1 lead. Panthers SP Jose Vasquez kept the Red Sox hitters at bay, recording his second straight three-up, three-down inning.
The Red Sox hitters came alive in the bottom of the fourth, getting back-to-back singles from LF Marcos Castillo and 1B Nick Burdett to start the inning but couldn’t cut into the deficit after a strikeout and inning-ending double play off the bat of 2B Kieran Bowles.
The Panthers increased their lead to three after a solo home run by C Yunior Ibarra and then the Sox got another good start in the their half of the fifth, once again getting consecutive hits to start the inning. After a fielder’s choice followed by a strikeout, SS Gus Wilson flied out to centre field to end the threat.
Brantford finally got back on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth inning stringing together three consecutive hits with two outs to cut the Panthers lead to 4-3. C Mike Dorcean ripped a single to the outfield, which was followed up by a Kieran Bowles double then 3B Jaret Lupton ripped a two-RBI single to get the home team back within one.
Vasquez and Panthers RP Yankiel Mauris shut the door the rest of the way as Mauris tossed 2.2 IP, striking out two and not walking a single batter as the Panthers held on for the 4-3 victory.
