Late rally lifts Baycats

BARRIE – Barrie scored twice in the ninth to beat Toronto 3-2 in Game 1 of their best-of-five quarter-final on Thursday at Athletic Kulture Stadium. 

Trailing 2-1 with three outs to go, Tyler Plumpton’s sacrifice fly pulled the second-place Baycats even. Noah Hull scored the winning run on a Leafs’ error. Francicso Hernandez went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Noel McGarry Doyle had two hits and scored a run.  

Barrie pitcher Frank Garces (1-0) used 133 pitches to get through eight innings. He allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits with three walks and 15 punchouts. Braedan Pakkala worked around a one-out walk to pick up the save.  

Toronto’s Jhon Javier hit a two-run double to open the scoring in the third. Dan Marra and Luca Boscarino had the other Leafs’ hits.  

Luis Florentino (1-2) took the loss in relief. He gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits in 1.2 innings. He walked one and struck out two. Starter Wilgenis Alvarado struck out seven over six innings. He gave up a run on four hits and struck out seven. 

Game 2 is Friday night in Toronto.