Every player in the Barrie Baycats' (8-9) lineup got a hit, including three home runs in a 21-hit, 12-1 home win over the Brantford Red Sox (4-15).
The win ended a three-game losing streak in which they had 21 hits combined as a team. They also only struck out four times after 24 in the same span.
Impressively, the Baycats only struck out
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LINE SCORE
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brantford | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Barrie | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | x | 12 | 21 | 1 |
Cottage-country traffic delayed the Red Sox arrival to the ballpark until approximately 3:30 p.m. ahead of a 4:05 p.m. scheduled first pitch. The game was subsequently delayed until 4:20 p.m.
Barrie's scoring got started right away with a two-run single by Tristan Clarke followed by another RBI single by Noah Hull.
Red Sox starter Pedro de los Santos failed to record an out in the second, and after allowing a three-run home run by Brandon Hernandez, he was pulled. It was the shortest start in his eight-year IBL career.
The first two innings were largely defined by miscues defensively by Brantford's infield. There were three infield hits and a missed cut-off man on an outfield relay throw in the first two innings. All mental errors that allowed Barrie batters to reach or advance.
Clayton Keyes led off the fourth with a home run, and had an RBI double the next inning, endearing himself to the crowd in his first home game since being signed Sunday.
He also made a highlight-reel over-the-shoulder catch in the sixth that might've prevented multiple Brantford runs. Barrie starter Juan Benítez even waited for him on the field as the inning ended.
"He just basically thanked me for sticking with that ball," Keyes said postgame. "I had some good communication from Noel and right there helping me out with the wall."
"He's a stud," manager Josh Matlow said postgame. "He does all the little things right and I think that's what attracts my attention."
Tyler Plumpton drove in Willy Garcia in the sixth to make it 9-0, extending his on-base streak to seven games.
Meanwhile, Benítez was cruising , allowing just three hits and four Red Sox baserunners through six innings. He had a stretch in which he retired 12 in a row.
The only run he allowed was a home run by Red Sox catcher Andrew Savage in the seventh. It was Savage's first IBL homer.
Benítez went seven innings, eventually getting the win in his fourth-consecutive quality start. He got ahead in a lot of counts, which seemed to define his outing.
"When you throw the first-pitch strike, you feel more confident in yourself," he said postgame. "You'll be on top, you can play with the hitter, you can throw anything you want."
"He could have went nine, Matlow said. "He had [over] 90 pitches. I thought that was enough."
Noel McGarry-Doyle added on in the eighth with a three-run home run in his first game back with the Baycats after a seven-game stint with Ottawa in the Frontier League.
"The Frontier League is a lot faster and there was some stuff in my game that I wasn't ready for when I got out there," he said postgame.
"Everybody today just came out the dugout just aggressive ready to get the bat off their shoulders. Nobody was really looking for walks."
"We never had a natural lead off a guy, but he's as close to it as we get," Matlow said. "He definitely sets a different tone in the dugout and in the locker room."
Adam Khan and Chris Lazar only needed 16 pitches collectively to finish off an impressive win for the Baycats, in the first of what is seven games in nine days.
RENEWED ENERGY
Designated hitter Willy Garcia was pulled from Tuesday's game after three strikeouts and an altercation with Matlow. However, today he was four-for-five wit a double.
It appeared to be a rejuvenating performance. He was seen as a jovial figure in the dugout during the game, and was noticeably friendly with Matlow, even hugging his manager.
"You need these kind of games to bond the boys together again and get things rolling," Matlow said. "I'm happy obviously with the outcome, but I'm also happy with all the little things within the game."
Whatever tension existed Tuesday may be a thing of the past.
FULL DAY OF SUCCESS
Second baseman Alex Wickett picked up his first IBL hit in a three-for-five performance, but it was a full day of games for the junior callup.
Barrie's 22U affiliate team played earlier that morning with in a provincial pre-elimination tournament in Kitchener. He had three hits in a 10-0 win before making the trip north to start against Brantford.
"I'm just out here trying to have fun," he said postgame. "It's a lot of stress playing at school. A lot of really big, important games. So when I come back here, I'm just trying to enjoy the moment."
The 22U team later won its second game of the day 24-4.
KEY STAT
This was Barrie's first game with at least 20 hits since June 23, 2022 vs. Kitchener. The only Baycats hitter in both lineups was McGarry-Doyle, who went two-for-five against the Panthers. Benítez also got the win that day.
UP NEXT
Barrie will start Frank Garcés (1-2, 3.15 ERA) on the road against Hamilton Sunday afternoon. The Cardinals' starter is TBA, but it's expected to be a bullpen day for the team.
The Red Sox will have their second game in four days against Kitchener, this one at home Sunday afternoon. Starters TBA.
