A statement win couldn't have come at a better time for the Barrie Baycats (6-6), nor could it come in a better fashion than a comeback, walk-off 8-7 win over the Welland Jackfish (11-2) Saturday at Athletic Kulture Stadium.
Barrie was down 7-1 through six-and-a-half innings, but put up three runs in each of the seventh and eighth innings to tie the game and force extras.
Considering the circumstances, it was a very unlikely comeback for Barrie.
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Most Baycats players couldn't be found pregame, almost making the field look barren, aside from the Jackfish warming up in left field.
It was later discovered that many players were late for batting practice, which ended early, and prompted a pregame meeting in the clubhouse.
Despite the change in pregame structure, Barrie scored first thanks to an RBI double by Nolan Machibroda and gave ace starter Frank Garcés his first opportunity to pitch with a lead this season.
However, it was one of Garcés' worst performances of his IBL career. He allowed six earned runs in six innings, which is the most in an outing in the IBL.
Welland scored seven runs across innings four to seven. Jake Sanford was a big part of two rallies, reaching with triples in the fourth and sixth innings thanks to misplays in left field by Machibroda allowing for extra bases.
New Baycats acquisition Ramon Henriquez allowed an earned run after taking over for Garcés. He struggled in his first inning, allowing the first four baserunners to reach on three walks and a hit, but found his rhythm and retired the next five batters he faced to get through the seventh and eighth.
Welland starter Ben Abram shut Barrie down after the first-inning run, improving his earned run average by 64 points with five scoreless frames.
Barrie's comeback began after the seventh-inning stretch.
Ryan Rijo hit a three-run home run off Jackfish reliever Halen Knoll to bring the team within three. It was Rijo's fourth of the season.
"We showed a lot of fight," Rijo said postgame. "Anytime you don't put us to bed, we're going to have a shot."
"That was really the game changer," Baycats manager Josh Matlow said postgame. "That said, 'We're in a ballgame here. Let's wake up.'"
Adam Odd added another homer off Scott Gillespie in the eighth to bring Barrie within two.
After Andrew Johnston was hit by a pitch, Jackfish closer Deivy Mendez came in for Gillespie and blew the save. He immediately allowed a double by Francisco Hernandez and a two-RBI, game-tying single by Brandon Hernandez.
Henriquez came back out for the ninth but was brought back to the dugout in favour of Carlos Sano. Both team's closers retired the side in order, forcing extra innings. After Matteo Porcellato sacrificed the automatic runner Gianfranco Morello to third, Sano stranded the go-ahead run.
With Mendez still in the game, Odd moved automatic runner Tristan Clarke to third setting up the big moment.
Noah Hull pinch hit for catcher Andrew Johnston and hit a game-winning single to right field to complete the improbable comeback.
"You turn around and you see all the guys with a smile on their faces coming at you," Hull said postgame. "It's a moment you can only describe when you experience it."
After going 0-for his last 12, Hull has had a walk-off single and a home run in each of his last two plate appearances, both as a mid-game substitution.
I'm a lot more relaxed," he said. "I'm trusting myself a little more and just kind of enjoying the game that I liked to play as a kid."
"It just says so much about his character and his ability to stay locked in," Rijo said. It couldn't have happened to a greater guy."
The win gives Barrie its fourth in a row and brings the Baycats back even at .500 for the first time this season after starting 0-3. It's also the ninth game in a row in which Barrie has either won or lost by one.
"We just kept believing in each other," Hull added. "We were a little slow offensively to start, but that happens with teams early in the season. Everyone's starting to get comfortable."
The same can be said for the team in this game. From innings two to six, Barrie left five on base and we're held scoreless against Abram.
"We didn't fold like a cheap lawn chair," Matlow said. "We fought, and that's all I want to see from the guys at this point in the season.
LINE SCORE
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 0 |
| Barrie | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 13 | 0 |
KEY MOMENT
In the bottom of the seventh, Malik Williams grounded into a fielder's choice and beat out the throw to first base that would've ended the frame via double play. His hustle extended the inning and led to Rijo's home run one pitch later.
STARTING PITCHERS
Barrie: Frank Garcés (0-2, 3.65 ERA)
| Dec. | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | PC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -- | 6.0 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 82 |
Welland: Ben Abram (2-2, 3.55 ERA)
| Dec. | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | PC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -- | 6.0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 94 |
UP NEXT
Barrie starts a three-game set on the road with the Chatham Kent Barnstormers Friday at Fergie Jenkins Field. Starters TBA
Welland hosts Guelph Sunday at Welland Stadium. Projected starters are Euclides Leyer (3-0, 2.50 ERA) for the Jackfish and Jacob Kush (1-2, 3.42 ERA) for the Royals.
