Despite a solid outing by starting pitcher Ricardo Alvarez-DeLugo, the Brantford Red Sox bullpen could not hold the lead and lost to the Guelph Royals 6-2 on Friday, June 7, 2024.
After a scoreless first inning, the league-leading Royals provided the first scoring chance in the top half of the second inning, but the Red Sox escaped with minimal damage and kept the game at no score.
Brantford drew the game’s first runs in the bottom half of the inning. Outfielder Matt Torrensan hammered a double, allowing second baseman Kieran Bowles to score from second base. After Royals starting pitcher Hector Yan hit Red Sox outfielder Ethan Paulos to load the bases, fellow outfielder Jordan Lewis delivered the Red Sox’s second run with a sacrifice fly, allowing catcher Jeremie Veilleux to score from third.
The Royals cut the Red Sox lead in half in the third inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, Takamatsu hit a sharp infield ground ball, allowing catcher Jaozef DelRosario to score from third. Red Sox averted further damage after Royals centre fielder J.D. Williams grounded out to a fielder’s choice.
Guelph looked to provide the equalizer during the middle innings. Still, the Red Sox defence bested their opposition with solid play, and Alvarez-DeLugo pitched efficiently as the game progressed through seven innings.
After allowing the lead-off single from Royals’ Takamatsu in the top of the eighth, Alvarez-DeLugo was relieved for Isiah Ramos. The Toronto, Ontario native went through seven-plus innings, struck out three, allowing seven hits, two walks, and two earned runs on 83 pitches.
Ramos got into trouble and could not pitch out of the jam as the Royals’ offence capitalized on Ramos’ miscues. After Ramos retired outfielders Jeff Macleod and J.D. Williams, the Royals stepped up with the clutch hits with two outs, pouring five runs in the process. Ramos was relieved for Sam Worthen, who pitched the rest of the inning and the ninth.
After a productive second inning, the Red Sox offence, which had the lowest team batting average going into the contest, continued to provide scoring opportunities as the game progressed but could not manufacture another run.
With the loss, the Red Sox dropped their fourth straight game and remained in last place in the IBL.
