Kitchener Panthers capitalized on nine fielding errors as they defeated the Brantford Red Sox 16-6 and extended Brantford’s home losing streak to seven straight games to start the season on Friday, June 16, 2023.
Brantford SP Isaiah Ramos started the game for the Red Sox, getting a quick flyball out before walking the next two batters. After an error by 2B Jaret Lupton, the bases were loaded and after another error by Ramos, the Panthers scored the first run of the game. Ramos settled down after that, only allowing the one earned run.
In the bottom half of the first, the Red Sox got two quick outs when 3B Matt Fabian struck out and SS Gus Wilson grounded out to third before DH Jeremie Veilleux ripped a single to right field, followed up by a single from LF Christian Kuzemka. Brantford had something going before Veilleux was picked off at second to end the inning.
Ramos walked the first batter in the top of the second before getting two flyball outs to left field. Then Panthers RF Jett Jarvis ripped a double, putting men on second and third but Ramos induced a pop-up to short to get out of the inning. In the Red Sox half of the inning, CF Jesse Fishbaum had an infield hit, stole second but after two strikeouts the Sox couldn’t get on the board.
Poor fielding showed up again for the Red Sox in the top of the third as they committed two more errors combined with a single as the Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 lead.
Brantford’s bats came alive in the bottom of the third, capitalizing on four singles. Fabian started the inning by popping out to short before Wilson hit a single to left, followed by a Kuzemka single, and two more singles from 1B Nick Burdett and Fishbaum as the Red Sox got back in the game, cutting Kitchener’s lead to 3-2 through three innings.
Ramos had a solid fourth, only allowing one earned run after a bloop single, a balk and a stolen base while the Red Sox went three-up, three-down in the bottom half.
Ramos had his best inning in the fifth, and after overcoming another error, got two strikeouts and a flyball out as he kept his team in the game. Brantford couldn’t muster any more offence in their half of the fifth as the scored remained 4-2 in favour of the Cats.
After getting two quick outs in the top of the sixth, Ramos ran into trouble as Kitchener hit three consecutive singles, knocking him out of the game in favour of RP Danny Howat, who didn’t fare much better. Howat allowed a single, walk and single as the Panthers put up five more runs to take a 9-2 lead.
The Sox got one back in the bottom half of the sixth but Kitchener took advantage of the Sox bullpen to tack on seven more runs in the next two innings on their way to the 16-6 victory.
Brantford’s next home game is Friday, June 23 when the Welland Jackfish visit Arnold Anderson Stadium followed by another home game, on Saturday, June 24, when the Maple Leafs come to town.
