Panthers use three-run third to take out Red Sox

BRANTFORD - The Kitchener Panthers made the most of a decisive third inning and strong pitching to edge the Brantford Red Sox 3-1 on Sunday afternoon in Intercounty Baseball League action at Arnold Anderson Stadium.
All three of Kitchener’s runs came in the top of the third, sparked by a Yordan Manduley RBI single, followed by Yosvani Penalver driving in another, and Charlie Towers adding a sacrifice fly to cap the rally.
Manduley led the Panthers’ offence with a three-hit performance, while Jamie Cabral and Iyad Ansari each added a hit and a run.
On the mound, Owen MacNeil was outstanding for the Panthers, tossing seven innings of one-hit, shutout baseball while striking out two and walking just one. Danny Garcia closed things out, allowing one run over the final two frames to earn the save.
Brantford’s lone run came in the bottom of the ninth on a Christian Ortega sacrifice fly, but it was too little, too late.
Rene Tachioka collected two of the Red Sox’s three hits in the game, including a double.
Connor Irvine took the loss for Brantford despite a solid seven-inning effort, giving up three runs on six hits while striking out three.
With the win, the Panthers improve to 7-13 and visit the Guelph Royals on Canada Day at 7:30pm.The Red Sox fall to 4-16 and hit the Road Tuesday to take on the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers at 6:05pm.