Brantford Prevails In Extra Innings Battle

by B. Young

The Brantford Red Sox headed to Hamilton on Tuesday night to take on the Cardinals. The Red Sox and Cardinals have a nice rivalry brewing this season, with this being the third meeting of the teams in just over a week. The season series was tied at one game apiece going into tonight's game which would turn out to be an instant classic.

In another pitchers duel, Brantford starter Jacob English kept the Cardinals hitless through 5 innings before Hamilton finally broke through in the 6th off of Brantford's bullpen scoring 2 runs. The Red Sox would continue to trail 2-0 heading into their last bats in the 9th inning.

But Brantford would not go home quietly on this evening. Working the plate, the Sox batters capitalized on walks and wild pitches to bring home a trio of runners and took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth. Hamilton answered back to tie the game, and Brantford entered extra innings for the first time this season.

The Intercounty Baseball League has adopted Major League Baseball's extra innings rule this season, with a runner starting on 2nd base. Both Brantford and Hamilton could not bring the runner home in the 10th, and the two teams entered the 11th tied 3-3.

The Red Sox capitalized on more Cardinal pitching woes in the 11th, when Colton Fountain scored the go ahead run on a wild pitch. After Jesse Fishbaum stole 3rd base he was driven in by Matt Pilarczyk, adding on an insurance run. Brantford took a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the 11th.

Hamilton managed to advance their ghost runner to 3rd. Gianfranco Morello made a highlight reel diving catch in centre field for the inning's 2nd out, and then fired the ball back into 3rd base to double off Hamilton's runner. The Brantford Red Sox secured the 5-3 win in a huge hard-fought team victory.

Morello, Pilarczyk, and Colton Fountain each contributed a hit for Brantford. Fishbaum scored 2 runs with a stolen base. Mack Major earned the win for Brantford.

Next up for the Red Sox is a trip to Welland on Thursday to take on the Jackfish. Brantford then returns home on Friday to host the Kitchener Panthers, game time is 8 pm. Join us at Arnold Anderson Stadium for 80’s Night at the ballpark! Come dressed in your best 80’s wear for a chance to win a prize pack of 4 game tickets, 4 hotdogs, and 4 cans of pop or water. But you must be dressed to impress to enter the draw! We also welcome National Anthem performer Macey MacDonald Thompson. Advance tickets are now available at brantfordredsox.com/tickets

Brantford Prevails In Extra Innings Battle

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