Panthers strike late against Barnstormers

KITCHENER – Spenser Ross’s two-out single scored Nick Parsons in the bottom of the eighth inning of Kitchener’s 6-5 win over Chatham-Kent on Thursday night at Jack Couch Park.

Raul Gonzalez and Nick Parsons each drilled two-run home runs for the Panthers (7-14).

On the mound, Panthers’ righty Yadian Martinez gave up two runs on seven hits over six frames. He punched out eight and didn’t issue a walk. He was in line for the win until Chatham’s Braxton Haggith hit a three-run blast in the seventh off Panthers’ reliever Brett Reid, who scattered three hits, walked two and struck out three over a pair of innings to pick up the victory (1-0).

Nathan Laird recorded the last three outs for his second save.

Spencer Marcus went 3-for-5 with an RBI for the Barnstormers (8-14). Daniel Battel and Mitsuki Fukuda each had two hits and a run.

Chatham reliever Sam McKinlay (1-2) took the loss. He yielded a run on one hit over two innings, walking one and striking out one. Barnstormers’ starter Eric Pettipiece went six innings and gave up five runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts.