Baycats fall 6-3 in 12 innings to Guelph, remain one win from playoff spot

CANADIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE
Guelph 100 000 000 203— 6 12 0
Barrie 000 000 001 200— 3  7 0

     Thomas, Custodio (BS) (7), Pineda (W,2-0) (11), Escorcia (S,8) (12) and Ward;
Garcés, Moreta (7), Sano (9), Pakkala (L,2-2) (12), Grieveson (12) and Ciprian.
HRs: Gue — None; Bar — None.

OTHER SCORES
Welland 12 Kitchener 7

The Barrie Baycats had several chances to win what their manager called their biggest game of the season Thursday night.

Once again, they couldn't capitalize.

Barrie (24-18) twice rallied to tie the game late, but the Guelph Royals (26-18) scored three runs in the 12th inning to hand the Baycats a 6-3 loss and prevent them from clinching a playoff berth.

"It was good fight, we just fell flat on our faces in that last inning there," Baycats manager Josh Matlow told Barrie360 postgame.

Barrie was down to its final out in the ninth before Wandy Ciprian's RBI double off former Baycat Claudio Custodio tied the game.

Guelph then took a 3-1 lead in the 10th, but Barrie rallied again, scoring twice to force another extra inning. A balk by Custodio moved the tying run to third with two out before the Baycats scored.

Braeden Pakkala (2-2) took the loss after Guelph scored three runs in the 12th, with Barrie unable to answer in the bottom half, striking out three times against Royals closer Kevin Escorcia.

Gleyvin Pineda (2-0) eventually picked up the win after holding Barrie scoreless in the 11th.

The loss keeps Barrie's magic number to clinch a playoff berth at one with six games remaining. The Baycats entered Thursday tied with Guelph for fourth place with both teams trying to move into the top three to avoid a one-game playoff for a semifinal berth.

While a game seperates the teams in the standings entering Friday, if Barrie and Guelph were to finish tied in the standings, the Royals would finish higher with Thursday's win claiming the season series 4-2.

Barrie struck out 15 times Thursday, one game after striking out 18 times despite winning in Hamilton. The Baycats also left 11 runners on base and are the CBL's only team with more than 400 strikeouts this season (430).

"We've got to put the ball in play, we've got to make them make plays," Matlow said. "All it takes is one hit with a guy in scoring position, and we're talking about a win."

Canice Ejoh went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts, setting a new CBL single-season record with 63 strikeouts. Ejoh, who has spent much of the season as Barrie's leadoff hitter, batted ninth Thursday.

The Baycats' struggles went beyond the strikeouts. Matlow said the team also failed to execute on some play calls in extra innings, including a couple of missed bunt attempts.

It's the Baycats' fifth consecutive loss at home, including one home game played in Kitchener as part of a doubleheader. The Baycats' home record is now 10-11, making them the only team with a losing record at home and winning record on the road.

Frank Garcés kept Barrie within striking distance, allowing one earned run over six innings while striking out five. Guelph starter Kyle Thomas was similarly effective, allowing three hits and one walk over six scoreless innings while striking out six.

"It feels like it's wasted," Matlow said about Garcés' quality start. "He's doing what we need him to do, and we're not doing what we need to do on the bats... Every night we're getting someone's ace."

UP NEXT

Barrie host the Welland Jackfish on Friday to make up a game originally scheduled for Aug. 2. Saul Vasquez (5-2, 5.16 ERA) starts for Barrie against Welland's Euclides Leyer (1-2, 2.29). With a win or Brantford loss against Toronto, the Baycats will clinch a playoff spot.

"We've got to stop pointing fingers at each other and get the job done," Matlow said. "It's go time."

The Royals are in Hamilton on Friday. Guelph will start Elvin Liriano (7-2, 4.06).