Eighth-inning blast sends Baycats past Leafs

BARRIE – The Barrie Baycats hadn’t led all game until Canice Ejoh took Toronto reliever Adam Marra deep with two on and two out in the bottom of the eighth inning Thursday at Vintage Throne Stadium.

Ejoh’s blast turned a one-run deficit into a two-run lead, and the Baycats held on for a 5-4 win in their season opener.

Barrie’s leadoff batter finished with three hits and was a single short of a cycle. He also stole a base. Adam Odd and Tyler Plumpton drove in the other runs.

Frank Garces (1-0) threw five innings of relief for the win. He allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits, walking six and striking out 10. Baycats’ starter Juan Benitez struck out six over four innings. He allowed a run on five hits and a walk.

Marra (0-1) was saddled with the loss, giving up Ejoh’s home run on three hits in an inning of work. Leafs’ starter Sam Greene went three scoreless innings and struck out five. He walked two and gave up a base hit.

At the plate, Marra drove in two. Johnathan Solazzo and Charlie Towers each had an RBI. Justin Marra had two hits and scored twice, and Ryan Dos Santos added two hits.

Toronto dropped to 0-2.