Nolan Machibroda's walk-off single in the ninth inning capped off a close, decisive, 5-4 game five win for the Barrie Baycats over the Toronto Maple Leafs Wednesday at Athletic Kulture Stadium.
With members from every team in the IBL watching, the Baycats won their second game of the series by a ninth-inning walk-off. After being down in the series 2-1, they once again consider themselves lucky that they won game one the way they did.
Juan Benítez had a quality start, going six innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five across six innings. His counterpart, Franklin Hernandez, put up a career-high 11 strikeouts, but still allowed four earned runs on six hits and two walks in 6.1 innings.
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Barrie WINS SERIES 3-2
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 4 |
RECAP
For the third consecutive start against Barrie, Hernandez allowed runs in the first inning. The Baycats scored twice with an RBI groundout by Nolan Machibroda and an RBI single by Tristan Clarke.
Benítez had only allowed one hit through five, but got into some trouble in the sixth thanks to his defense.
He gave up three consecutive singles to start the inning and load the bases before inducing a groundball off the bat of Luca Boscarino. Shortstop Brandon Hernadez flipped to his brother, Francisco, at second base to put out Justin Marra, but the throw to first sailed into the crowd, allowing the tying run to scoreand Boscarino to advance to second..
Then, in a long face off with Dennis Dei Baning, Benítez balked, moving the go-ahead run to third, which the Maple Leafs centerfielder drove in on a sacrifice fly.
Barrie answered back right away in the bottom half of the inning on a two-out, two-run home run by Adam Odd. It was the first home run by a Baycat of the postseason, and first since for Odd since June 14 (14 games).
Another quick answer and some smallball by Toronto in the seventh tied the game at four. A leadoff walk issued by Baycats reliever Ramon Henriquez to Dan Marra, a sacrifice bunt by Ryan Dos Santos, and a two-out RBI single by former Baycat Jordan Castaldo made it 4-4.
In the eighth, Barrie had the bases loaded with two out, and the fans gave a standing ovation to a pinch hitter, who had been absent from the spotlight for over two months: Ryan Rijo.
He emerged from the dugout after not having played since June 14 due to a diagnosis of myocarditis. I wasn't the first time Rijo had swung a bat since his diagnosis or been in full uniform, but it appeared to be a perfect situation for him.
However, Maple Leafs reliever Luis Florentino ruined the moment for the Barrie crowd by striking Rijo out, stranding three, and spoiling what could've been a magical moment.
Carlos Sano shut Toronto down in the ninth. Reliever Greg Carrington, who retired the only two batters he faced in game four, entered for the Maple Leafs to try and force extra innings.
Noel McGarry Doyle reached on an infield single, beating out a deep groundball to Toronto second baseman Zach Lampreia, fresh into the game after pinch running for Dan Marra earlier in the inning. With a head-first dive into first base, McGarry Doyle beat out the throw.
After a wild pitch advanced McGarry Doyle to second, Brandon Hernandez reached on a bunt single, and Francisco Hernandez was intentionally walked.
The bases were loaded for Nolan Machibroda, who was 0-for-four in the game, and just one-for-19 in the series coming into this plate appearance.
Nonetheless, the Baycats first baseman got the job done with a single, a deep flyball to center field. Very reminiscent of his walk-off in the regular season against Kitchener
With the win, Barrie secures i
FUN FACT
This was Barrie's first winner-take-all playoff game since a 7-2 win for the Baycats at home in game seven of the IBL semifinals in 2015. Barrie went on to win its second of six consecutive IBL championships.
Six players on the current Maple Leafs or Baycats rosters appeared in that game, but the only one to play in both games 10 years apart was Jordan Castaldo, who homered in the 2015 contest.
UP NEXT
Barrie hosts the Hamilton Cardinals on Friday in game one of the IBL semifinals. Cesar Rosado (0-0, 4.50 ERA) will make a short start against Enrique Saldana (0-0, 2.45 ERA).
