Panthers take series opener

HAMILTON – After rain put a hold on Game 1, the Kitchener Panthers opened the series with a 10-4 win Tuesday night at Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium.

Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday at Jack Couch Park and will pick up in the bottom of the second inning with no score and a Panthers runner on first.

Tied 2-2 Tuesday, Kitchener broke the game open with four runs in the seventh inning and added one in the eighth and three in the ninth.

Tanner Nivins and Brian Burton each had three hits, including a home run, two RBI and two runs. Andy Leader went 3-for-5 with three RBI, Mike Gordner drove in a run, and Zarley Cina singled twice and scored three times.

Kitchener starter Yoennis Yera (2-0) allowed two runs on seven hits in seven innings. He walked one and struck out six.

Chris Lazar (2-1) took the loss, giving up four runs (two earned) on seven hits over six innings. Lazar walked one and struck out one.

Offensively, Chris Beer went 3-for-5 with a run, Luke Tevlin drove in a run, Jon Dziomba singled, doubled and had an RBI, Jake Chiaravalle drove in a run and scored, and Connor Patterson added an RBI.