All the scoring came in extras for both teams, but it was a home run by Francisco Hernandez that made the difference in a 3-1 Barrie win over London at Labatt Park.
One week after a complete game loss, Frank Garcés dominated London’s lineup, which failed to reach off the left-hander even once through seven innings.
Not only did Garcés rack up 10 strikeouts, he got into just two three-ball counts in his eight-inning outing.
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Majors designated hitter Byron Reichstein eventually broke up the bid for perfection with a single to lead off the eighth inning, followed by another base hit by Josh Niles. Garcés then got three consecutive outs, including an inning-ending strikeout of former teammate Kyle Maves.
Baycats manager Josh Matlow said that seeing the first London hit was kind of a relief.
"It got to the point where I didn't know what to do, he said. "it would have been a shame to have to pull him after the ninth or tenth because we don't have a run... it was frustrating for us. We put on bunts, we did hit-and-runs, we'd done everything we could and we just couldn't execute. We didn't want to waste Frank's performance."
The closest anyone got to getting a hit off Garcés until the eighth was in the third inning when Dre Amaral hit a short infield pop-up, but Baycats first baseman Nolan Machibroda made an impressive diving catch to end the frame.
Meanwhile, the Baycats offense was almost as stagnant.
Barrie reached base just four times in the first nine innings and struck out eight times against Majors starter Victor Payano. No luck either facing relievers Colby Ring or Ryan Beitel who made his IBL debut.
Extra innings were a different story, however.
Both teams capitalized on the runner on second base to start the tenth. Barrie got an RBI single by Willy Garcia, followed by London answering with a sacrifice fly by Ken Sugi to even the score at one heading into the 11th.
Then, Francisco Hernandez hit a leadoff two-run homer to break it open, despite that not being his gameplan when he stepped into the batter's box.
Hernandez showed bunt on the first pitch, which surprised his team.
"I asked him before the bat: 'can you promise me you can hit it to the right side,' and he goes: 'I got you,' Matlow explained. "And then he threw it out to go bunt. So we all yelled 'swing, swing, swing, we didn't call a bunt."
After being put in the leadoff spot in the order the first three games of the season and struggling, going one-for-14 with six strikeouts, he has flourished since in the ninth spot. In the six games since, he's seven-for-21 with three home runs, three doubles, and six RBI.
"I've felt more relaxed. It's more thinking time of what my approach is going to be at the plate," Hernandez described. "Everything happens for a reason."
Carlos Sano only had to retire two Majors hitters in the bottom of the 11th after shortstop Brandon Hernandez made a highlight-reel leaping catch to retire pinch-hitter Brad Verhoeven and double-up Josh Niles at second base. Hernandez stomped on second base emphatically to complete the double play.
The catch seemed to turn the tide emotionally for the younger Hernandez brother. Earlier in the game he was seen going down the tunnel toward the clubhouse extremely frustrated, throwing his helmet and shouting. He finished 0-for-5 with a strikeout in a game in which he appeared to be battling illness.
"I told him, you're making good contact, so keep it up," Francisco Hernandez described about his brother. "Keep your head high, we have defense to play. Defense wins games. That's what I told him, look what happened."
Francisco also said that was the best defensive play he's ever seen his brother make.
Sano earned his first win of the season with a three-inning relief performance. His counterpart, Skylar Janisse was charged with his first loss.
STARTING PITCHERS
BAR: Frank Garcés (0-2, 2.42 ERA): 8 IP, 2 H, 10 SO
LDN: Victor Payano (2-1, 2.45 ERA) 6 IP, 2 H, 8 SO, 1 BB
UP NEXT
Barrie doesn't play until Wednesday when the Baycats will be in Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs at Christie Pits. Starters TBD.
The Majors are in Welland to play the 7-0 Jackfish Saturday. Starters TBD
