BRANTFORD RED SOX AT KITCHENER PANTHERS

Friday, August 10th, 2018
IBL Playoffs, Round 1 Game 2

by Anne Chamberlain, with BrantfordRedSox.com staff

The Brantford Red Sox headed to Kitchener for what was now game 2 of their best-of-5 IBL first round playoff series vs. the 2nd seeded Kitchener Panthers (this game was a makeup date for the original game 1 that was rained out).  Unfortunately Brantford's season is now on the line after tonight's 9-1 loss against the Kitchener Panthers.  Sunday afternoon's game 3 (also in Kitchener) is now a must win for our boys. 

With the loss of Brantford 3rd baseman David Mendham going off to school after game 1, Wayne Forman and his staff had a bit of shuffling to do. Nick Burdett, the team's usual 1st baseman, was shifted to 3rd base. On the plus side for the Sox was the return of Matt McGovern from injury, he slotted in at 1st base. Welcome back Gov!  And best of luck to David who is heading to Connors State in Oklahoma. 

Kitchener took a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning and didn’t look back. It looked like we might have an old-fashioned pitchers duel until the 5th inning, when the Sox committed 2 errors ultimately leading to a 5 run inning for Kitchener. Kitchener would add of 3 insurance runs over the course of the game. 

Brantford’s lone run didn’t come until the top of the 9th inning. When Nick Burdett came to the plate, there were 2 out. The count was 3 balls and 1 strike. Next pitch - over the fence in right field. Solo home run. Incidentally, it was also the game’s only home run.

Brantford did have their chances in last night’s game They had runners on in the 3rd, 5th and 8th innings. However, the Sox came up against some hot Kitchener pitching and some good defensive plays by the Panthers for the 2nd game in a row.

Taking the loss for Brantford was starter Jose Bautista. He went 5 innings giving up 6 runs on 7 hits, walked 4 and struck out 3. Matt Betts came in for the 6th and 7th innings. Tanner Guindon finished the game.

Good to see so many Brantford fans make the trip last night to Kitchener. We are always loud and proud wherever we go. See you Sunday!  (For those who have never been to Jack Couch Park in Kitchener before and are thinking of going Sunday afternoon, the stadium is in the same place as the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium).

Box Score

Brantford Red Sox game recap brought to you by Davis Fuels