Brantford Red Sox Week 7 Wrap Up

TUESDAY JUNE 27 - BRANTFORD RED SOX 2 GUELPH ROYALS 7

The Brantford Red Sox (2-15) kicked off the week visiting the Guelph Royals (5-12). One of the Red Sox's wins this season came on a Tuesday night in Guelph, and they looked to keep their perfect 'Tuesdays at Hastings' record intact, sending Noah Falkenberg to the mound in a spot start. 

After leading off the 1st inning with a run, Brantford surrendered 4 straight back and trailed the Royals 4-1 after 3 innings. The Red Sox would only manage one more run, dropping this one 7-2.

Brantford didn't suffer from a lack of baserunners, out-hitting Guelph 8-7, but either stranded them (11) or hit them into double plays (4). Kieran Bowles led the Sox at the plate going 3 for 3. Danny Howat pitched 5.2 innings of long relief, giving up 3 runs on 6 hits. 

FRIDAY JUNE 30 - HAMILTON CARDINALS 10 BRANTFORD RED SOX 6

Brantford (2-16) opened up a pair of back to back home games on Friday night hosting the Hamilton Cardinals (12-7). The Red Sox sent Danny Garcia to the mound, and he delivered pretty much what's to be expected of one of his starts - 8 runs (all earned) on 9 hits over 5 innings of work. Brantford attempted to make a game of it, scoring 5 to cut Hamilton's lead to 9-5 after 6 innings, but playing from behind hasn't been the Red Sox's strong suit this season and tonight would be no different, dropping this one 10-6.

Kieran Bowles led the way going 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored. And congratulations go out to Jesse Fishbaum who notched his 100th career IBL hit with an RBI double in the 6th inning. Danny Howat continued to cement his position as Brantford's most dependable reliever, going 2 innings and striking out 4 while giving up just 1 run on 1 hit. 

SATURDAY JULY 1 - KITCHENER PANTHERS 18 BRANTFORD RED SOX 10

Quick turnaround for the Brantford Red Sox (2-17) with a 2 pm Canada Day first pitch hosting the Kitchener Panthers (11-7). Brantford started off well, getting a 3 up 3 down 1st inning from starter Isaiah Ramos.This was followed by a solo shot by Matt Fabian (his first career IBL home run), to take a 1-0 lead after 1.

Ramos unfortunately did not have his best stuff going however, struggling mightily in the 2nd and 3rd innings and giving up 9 runs (all earned) while walking 3 and striking out none. Unsurprisingly, Brantford's bullpen fared no better yielding another combined 9 runs. The Red Sox threatened to rally at times, cutting the Panthers lead to 9-6 after 5 innings, and 14-10 after 7, but the Sox simply couldn't dig themselves out. Brantford drops the Canada Day matchup 18-10.

IBL batting average leader Matt Fabian had another monster day at the plate, going 4 for 6 including his 1st career home run. Jeremie Veilleux and Taichi Nakamura also had 3 hits apiece.  Kyle Nash and Gabe Bruder each pitched 2 innings of 1 hit shutout relief. 

Midseason Review

Sporting a 2-18 record with 22 games left to play in the regular season, Brantford finds themselves at the bottom of the IBL standings. With the lowest amount of runs scored and highest amount allowed in the league, both pitching and batting have been concerns in the first half. The Red Sox also led the league in errors, so there is much work to be done all around. 

Brantford's starting rotation needs to find another pitcher to compliment Jeremias Sucre and Isaiah Ramos, who have been effective for the most part. And the Red Sox need reliable bullpen arms to then turn the games over to. Brantford's roster has been too position player heavy in the first half of the season, and the Red Sox will need to continue to enhance the roster with available, effective pitchers if they want to fare better against IBL batters and move up in the standings.

Brantford started off the season struggling at the plate, but the additions of Matt Fabian, Gus Wilson, and Christian Kuzemka in June have already gone a long way in reshaping the batting order. Jeremie Veilleux has been very effective in getting on base, and look for Jesse Fishbaum and Kieran Bowles to continue to heat up in the second half as well. 

Week 8 Preview

Brantford now hits the road for a pair of games before returning back home:

• Thursday July 6 at Welland, 7:25 pm
• Friday July 7 at Hamilton, 7:35 pm
• Sunday July 9 vs. Barrie Baycats, 2 pm at Arnold Anderson Stadium | TICKETS
• Mark your calendars: Brantford also announced that their rainout on June 24 hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs will now be played on Monday July 10, 8 pm at Arnold Anderson Stadium | TICKETS

The Brantford Red Sox were founded in 1911 and have won 15 Intercounty Baseball League titles. Season passes are now available at Brant Sports Excellence, 415 Fairview Drive in Brantford. Digital single game tickets, flex packs, and season passes are also available online at brantfordredsox.com/tickets. 

Read about the Red Sox in the Brant Beacon, the official media partner of the Brantford Red Sox, and follow @IBLRedSox on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. Stream all of our home games on our YouTube channel.