Frank Garcés and Mizuki Akatsuka logged their third and fourth quality starts of the season respectively, but it was an eighth inning two-run home run by Nolan Machibroda that powered the Barrie Baycats (7-6) to a 5-2 over the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers (8-7) at Fergie Jenkins Field.
Garcés was originally set to start Friday before the game was postponed due to inclement weather. Meanwhile, Akatsuka was already slated to start Saturday and didn't get moved in favour of game one's announced starter, Brock Whitson.
Barrie got on the board first with a solo homer by Tristan Clarke, his third of the season and one of three hits on the night for him. It was also the 11th home run allowed by the Japanese switch-pitcher, which extends his IBL lead in that category.
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Akatsuka nearly gave up another one in the fourth to Willy Garcia, but the ball was caught at the wall by Lee Kucera before Evan Morrison doubled up Machibroda at second base.
Another run-saving assist came when Spencer Marcus threw out Clarke at home plate in the fifth to end the frame.
Meanwhile, Garcés was perfect through three innings before allowing an unearned run on a sac fly by Mitsuki Fukuda, which came after an error by second baseman Francisco Hernandez.
Garcés only allowed three baserunners until the seventh inning when he allowed a go-ahead RBI double to Sadler Goodwin.
He then got into a bases-loaded jam in the eighth due in part to Timmy Wagner Jr. fighting off many of Garcés' pitches to draw the only walk of the game. Robert Mackie struck out and Trent Sillett subsequently grounded out to end the frame and strand three.
After Akatsuka's outing ended, Eric Pettipiece entered in relief in the eighth, and gave up the go-ahead homer by Machibroda.
Barrie added two more unearned runs off Garret Day in the ninth, and Carlos Sano picked up his second save of the season.
With the win, the defending IBL champions now have a winning record for the first time this season.
INJURIES
BARRIE: First baseman Malik Williams exited the ballgame in the top of the first after injuring his right knee on a swing. He was later seen being carted away from the field. The team fears it could be an injury to his MCL, but won't know more until next week.
Second baseman Francisco Hernandez injured his hamstring rounding third before scoring an insurance run in the top of the ninth. He subsequently left the game. Manager Josh Matlow confirmed postgame that Hernandez's status is week-to-week.
LINE SCORE
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrie | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 4 |
| Chatham-Kent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 3 |
STARTING PITCHERS
Barrie: Frank Garcés (1-2, 3.15 ERA)
| Dec. | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | PC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 100 |
Chatham-Kent: Mizuki Akatsuka (1-2, 4.17 ERA)
| Dec. | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | PC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -- | 7 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 101 |
UP NEXT
Both teams play each other twice Sunday as part of a doubleheader in order to make up for the postponement due to weather Friday. Both games will be seven innings in length.
Barrie will start Juan Benítez (1-1, 3.78 ERA) in game one against Chatham-Kent's Brock Whitson (3-1, 4.64 ERA).
Game two will feature a matchup of Cesar Rosado (2-1, 5.60 ERA) for the Baycats and Yuri O'Connor-Yokoyama (2-0, 2.57 ERA) for the Barnstormers.
