Surging Sox Make It 2 In A Row

by B. Young

BRANTFORD - The Brantford Red Sox returned to Arnold Anderson Stadium on Monday to host the Toronto Maple Leafs, just mere hours after their first home win of the season on Sunday. Sunday's affair was a marathon slugfest, in a game that saw a combined 35 runs, both teams each batting around once, and a 3.5 hour plus run time. The question was would the Red Sox have anything left in the tank for this game?

Having used Monday's planned starter Isaiah Ramos on Sunday to close out the game, Brantford turned to Danny Howat. Howat, who has been exceptional for the Red Sox this season largely in a long relief role, was up to the challenge and found himself in a pitchers duel with the Maple Leafs' Marek Deska. Toronto would strike first, scoring 1 in the 4th inning to break the stalemate. But the Red Sox would answer back in the 6th, striking for 4 runs off the Leafs' bullpen to take a 4-1 lead.

Toronto answered back in the 8th, scoring a pair off of Brantford starter-turned-reliever for the night Jeremias Sucre, cutting the Red Sox's lead to a precarious 4-3. But Sucre beared down, even after Toronto put their first 2 runners on base in the 9th, getting a flyout then 2 straight strikeouts to secure the 4-3 win for Brantford.

Howat earned the win, going 7 innings and charged with just 2 runs on 7 hits, striking out 8. Sucre gets credited with his first IBL save. Matt Fabian once again led the way at the plate going 2 for 3. Kieran Bowles, Roger Keen, Christian Kuzemka, and Tyler Wilson also contributed hits for the Sox.

Brantford looks to continue their winning ways, as the homestand continues with a pair of games this weekend:

Friday July 14 - Guelph Royals at Brantford Red Sox, 8 pm Arnold Anderson Stadium. Christmas in July night at the ballpark.
Saturday July 15 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Brantford Red Sox, 8 pm Arnold Anderson Stadium. Brantford Minor Baseball Association night at the ballpark.

Advance tickets for both games are available at brantfordredsox.com/tickets

The Brantford Red Sox were founded in 1911 and have won 15 Intercounty Baseball League titles. 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.