For the second consecutive year, the Barrie Baycats' (22-16) single-season strikeout record has been broken. Frank Garcés had strikeouts 106 to 113 in a dominant 20-4 win over Toronto Thursday at Athletic Kulture Stadium.
Garcés recorded strikeouts 106 and 107 in the first inning, later receiving a standing ovation from the crowd, which received free admission to the game, in the half-inning break.
"I hope he knew," Baycats manager Josh Matlow said postgame. "I'm surprised they didn't announce it right away... obviously we've been struggling and he came out and gave us a 'Frank' performance."
Meanwhile, his team gave him some much needed run support, running up a 10-run lead during the former major leaguer's six shutout innings.
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| TEAM | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 2 |
 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | x | 20 | 21 | 1 |
Barrie's first runs came in the second inning on a two-run, opposite-field homer by Tristan Clarke, which puts him at nine on the season, one back of the IBL lead. That was the first of three frames in which the Baycats sent at least nine men to the plate.
It was Clarke's second homer of the year against the Maple Leafs, bumping his head-to-head OPS to 1.012 in six games, along with seven RBI.
"TC behind me gives me all the confidence of the world," Nolan Machibroda said postgame. "He's going to drive me in whenever he gets up there."
Toronto starter Franklin Hernandez, who pitched five shutout innings and got the win July 30 over the Baycats, only got four outs. He allowed five earned runs on four hits and four walks while striking out two.
Later, acting Maple Leafs manager Brian Sewell was ejected after an altercation with home plate umpire Keith Courville. Sewell was managing in place of Rob Butler who was suspended after an ejection Sunday in Chatham.
Meanwhile, Nolan Machibroda had another full statline. He went four-for-five with a walk, four RBI, and five runs. In six games this year against Toronto this season, Machibroda's on-base percentage is .567.
Everyone in the Baycats lineup got a hit, including substitution James Anderson had his first hits of the season. He was two-for-two with a double, a walk, and an RBI after entering in the sixth as a defensive replacement.
Antonino Spencer-Thompson pinch-hit for Clarke in the eighth and hit his first IBL home run off Adam Marra.
"I think I pulled a hamstring jumping out of the dugout," Matlow said. "We were so excited for him."
Like Garcés, Spencer-Thompson got to keep his milestone baseball.
Thursday was the final day before Spencer-Thompson leaves for his freshman year of college in Arizona. His final three IBL at-bats featured two triples and a homer.
I felt like I was struggling with my swing a little bit throughout the season with the junior team," he said postgame. "To come out here, get the extra bats, and finally find my swing again, being able to do some damage was nice."
The 18-year-old Bradford-native cited a tip he got in batting practice from Clarke earlier in the season that helped him regain his confidence.
Marra, who replaced Sewell as the acting manager, got the win against the Baycats July 24. However, he was tagged for nine earned runs on 11 hits in 1.1 innings Thursday.
"We've had a couple of frustrating games in a row," Machibroda said. "We've got a lot of belief in this group, and we know what our offense brings to the table, and it felt really good tonight."
FRANCHISE RECORD
Garcés broke the imminent record on the first batter of the game with a swinging strikeout of Toronto third baseman Ryan Dos Santos.
Cesar Rosado, who set the franchise mark in 2024, was among the first to congratulate Garcés in the dugout upon his return in the middle of the first.
Before Rosado, Adrian Salcedo set the record with 90 in 2019 after Angus Roy held the record with 87 after the 2007 season.
The IBL's single-season strikeout record was set by Guelph Royals right-hander Claudio Custodio in 2022 with 196.
NO ARMS WASTED
Machibroda made his first IBL pitching appearance, having thrown a quick bullpen session pregame.
The left-hander started the game at first base, and allowed one earned run, two hits, and two walks in the ninth inning.
"I just went out there and had fun, tried to fill up the strike zone, he said. "I've been begging Matlow to pitch in a blow-out situation all year, and I finally got my shot."
"I said 'if you go up fifteen, then I'll let you pitch,' and it actually happened," Matlow said. "At 17-2 I couldn't say no."
TOP FISH
The Welland Jackfish (28-10) clinched their third-consecutive IBL pennant with a 10-0 home win over Brantford.
Welland is once again guaranteed home field through the IBL postseason, which yielded the team a championship in 2023, and a semifinal loss in 2024.
Through 38 games, the Jackfish have a run differential of +167. Barrie has the second highest in the league at +39.
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | x | 10 | 14 | 1 |
UP NEXT
The Baycats are on the road Friday in Brantford. Johnathan Warden (0-1, 9.41 ERA) will start for Barrie while the Red Sox are yet to announce a starter.
Toronto hosts the Hamilton Cardinals (18-17) Saturday.
