IBL PLAYOFF ROUNDUP: Four-run eighth sends Panthers past Majors

LONDON – A four-run eighth inning was all the offence Kitchener needed in a 6-2 Game 2 win over London on Friday at Labatt Park.

The Panthers lead the best-of-five quarter-final 1-0. They’ll resume Game 1 on Sunday, trailing 3-1 in the third inning, before beginning Game 3 afterwards.

After Kitchener took the lead late in the eighth, Stephen Whalen added insurance with a two-run single. Yunior Ibarra went 2-for-3 with an RBI, Andy Leader singled twice and scored twice, and Raul Gonzalez and Liam Wilson drove in the other runs.  

Panthers’ pitcher Jose Vasquez struck out two over 2.1 scoreless innings for the victory. Starter Yadian Martinez gave up an earned run on 10 hits before he was lifted with two outs in the seventh. He walked one and struck out 10.

Eduardo De Oleo went 2-for-4 with an RBI for London. Daniel Battel and Andrew Lawrence each had a pair of hits.

On the mound, Wilbur Martinez took the loss after yielding five runs (four earned) on four hits over two innings. He walked one and struck out three. London starter Pedro De Los Santos threw seven innings and allowed one run on five hits with a walk and nine strikeouts.

Cardinals even series with Baycats

HAMILTON – After dropping the opener in Barrie, the Hamilton Cardinals evened their best-of-five quarter-final with a 5-1 win over the Baycats on Friday night at Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium.

Brandon Nicholson went 3-for-4 with three stolen bases and a run atop the Cards’ lineup. Laine Renaud hit a solo home run, Tyler Duncan singled twice, scored twice and drove in a run, while Quin Cotton, Luis Bernardo, Dennis Dei Baning and Tanner Rempel all had an RBI.

On the mound, Corben Peters struck out nine over eight innings for the win. He allowed a run on five hits and two walks.

Starlin Rodriguez singled home Canice Ejoh in the sixth inning for Barrie’s lone run.

Juan Benitez took the loss, giving up five runs on 10 hits over 6.1 innings. He walked one and fanned four.

Jackfish takes series lead

BRANTFORD – Gianfranco Morello’s bases-loaded triple highlighted Welland’s five-run first inning, and the Jackfish never looked back in a 7-3 Game 2 win Friday night in Brantford.

Game 1 will be resumed on Saturday at 6 p.m. with Welland up 8-4 in the sixth inning. Game 3 will follow.

James Smibert, Caleb Feuerstake and Hogan Brown all had two hits and drove in a run for the Jackfish in Game 2, while Ethan Hunt picked up an RBI. Tyler Dupuis added two hits and scored twice.

Welland starter James Bradwell lasted seven innings and gave up three runs on six hits with three walks and seven strikeouts.

For Brantford, Nick Burdett went 2-for-4 with a two-run triple. He scored one batter later on Cris Ruiz’s single. Christian Kuzemka added two hits and scored.

Isaiah Ramos took the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits in five innings. He walked five and struck out three.