After winning 3 games down in Toronto the Panthers were looking to do something they hadn’t done yet in this series (technically) and that was win a game at Jack Couch Park.

Game 1 of the series was suspended and resumed down in Toronto before Game 2, the Panthers would come from behind and rally in the 8th to win Game 1. That proved to be a stepping stone in the series.

Fast Forward to Game 4 tonight and both Kitchener starter Jonder Martinez and Toronto starter Jusitn Ciccatello would give up 2 runs in the 1st inning.  Toronto loaded the bases with nobody out off of Martinez and cashed their runs on a RBI single by Mike Reeves and then a Sac Fly by Marcus Knecht. The Panthers wasted little time after Yorbis Borroto singled with 1 out, Mike Gordner launched a shot out to left field to tie it up at 2-2.

Both starters settled down after the 1st and it would stay 2-2 until the bottom of the 4th when Brian Burton connected on a drive over the scoreboard to give the Panthers a short lived 3-2 lead. Toronto would tie it up in the top of the 5th on a RBI single by Knecht- his 2nd of the game that brought home Grant Tammane.

It looked like we could be headed for extra innings after the Panthers bullpen did some good work in the 7th and 8th.  Matt Vickers and Mike Schnurr set the Leafs down with ease. Ciccatello who was still pitching come the bottom of the 8th would give up his 4th home run of the contest, this time to Yorbis Borrto to give the Panthers a 4-3 lead.

Schnurr would come back out for the 9th and needed only 8 pitches to retire the Leafs in order giving the Panthers a 4-3 win and ending the series with the Panthers winning 4-0 over the Leafs.

This sets up a rematch of last year’s IBL Finals with the Panthers facing the Barrie Baycats.  Kitchener will be looking to end Barrie’s 4 consecutive title reigns. The IBL Finals will kick off next week, stay tuned to the Panthers website and Social Media outlets for dates and times of the games.