Sox Have One Slip Away On Canada Day

by B. Young

The Brantford Red Sox hosted their rivals from down the 403, the Hamilton Cardinals, on Canada Day. The home side hoped that turning the page on the calendar might lead to turning the page on a so far winless season. 

Brantford starter Bennett Moore got off to a rocky start. After walking the bases loaded, another free pass brought in a Hamilton run. Fortunately the Red Sox were able to minimize the damage at 1. Brantford then followed up their 11 run performance from their last game with more fireworks for Canada Day. Nick Burdett blasted a towering 3 run shot over the right field scoreboard, and the Sox took a 3-1 lead into the 2nd inning. 

After a scoreless 2nd inning and a Hamilton solo home run in the 3rd, Brantford responded in the 4th. Liam Sutherland led off with a solo blast to right field. Unfortunately, the Sox couldn't build on the momentum but they took a 4-2 lead into the 5th inning.

The 5th inning seems to be the danger zone for Brantford's starters this season, and that trend continued today. A walk, wild pitch, and a hit by pitch would help contribute to a pair of Hamilton runs, and the call was made to Brantford's bullpen. Another walk and hit by pitch combo would gift the Cardinals with another run before the Red Sox escaped with an inning ending double play. In the bottom of the inning the top of the Brantford order combined to bring in a run, and the teams headed into the 6th inning tied 5-5.

Brantford reliever Alex Gowing then settled in and delivered a pair of 3 up/3 down 6th and 7th innings. Unfortunately, Brantford's offence only managed to stand a runner in each of the innings, and the two teams headed into the 8th inning still tied 5-5.

The Cardinals broke the deadlock with a go ahead run in the 8th inning. And after Brantford failed to respond in the bottom of the inning, Hamilton added on a pair of insurance runs in the 9th. Brantford still had hope, tor the second game in a row heading to the bottom of the ninth trailing by just 3. Unfortunately, the walk off would elude the Sox again -  final score Hamilton 8 Brantford 5.

FOR BRANTFORD: The top of the order Jesse Fishbaum, Troy Banks, and Jon Dziomba each delivered a pair of hits. Nick Burdett's home run was his 3rd of the year, and Liam Sutherland's his first. 

The challenging IBL schedule now has Brantford playing 2 more games spanning the next 30 hours and covering 600 km - Saturday night in Barrie, and then a Sunday matinee in London. The Red Sox then return home on Wednesday July 6th hosting the London Majors, game time is 8 pm at Arnold Anderson Stadium. Advance tickets are available at brantfordredsox.com/tickets

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Established in 1911, the Brantford Red Sox have been an institution in the Southwestern Ontario community for over a century. The Brantford Red Sox are the most historically decorated active team in the Intercounty Baseball League, appearing in 27 finals and winning 15 IBL championships. 

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