Burns Has Revenge Game; Leroux Hits Grand Slam in Blowout Win Over Baycats
GUELPH - Everyone goes home happy.
The Guelph Royals blew out the Barrie Baycats 15-3 on Wednesday evening to improve to 18-12 on the season.
With the loss, the Baycats fall to 21-11.
Guelph starter Yuki Narita did all that was asked from him in this one, tossing six innings of one-run ball.
The righty allowed five hits and four walks while striking out eight Barrie batters.
Royals second baseman Carson Burns led the offensive charge against his former team, going three-for-five with a no-doubt home run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Barrie starter Braeden Pakkala was roughed up, taking the loss after allowing six earned runs on seven hits and four walks in just three innings pitched.
BARRIE - 3-7-3
GUELPH - 15-14-1
BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME: Down 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning, with the bases loaded and no one out, Royals shortstop Brando Leroux hit a grand slam to give the Royals a 5-2 lead.
FUNNIEST MOMENT OF THE GAME: With both teams short on players -- and with the game being a blowout -- we saw Baycats designated hitter Ryan Rijo enter the game as a pitcher. He faced Royals pitcher-turned-designated hitter Hector Yan and got him to groundout to shortstop.
BY THE NUMBERS...
1. Leroux's grand slam home run was his first career IBL home run.
1. Burns' home run was his first of the season and his first against his former team in just his second game as a Royal.
1. Franklin Torres also hit his first home run as a Royal in this one, a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning to get the Royals on the board.
2. Leroux's grand slam was not the only one for the Royals on the night, with right fielder Andy Leader hitting one off Rijo in the ninth inning for the Royals' second grand slam the night.
6. The Royals struck for six runs in the fourth inning to blow the game wide open.
9. The Royals got hits from all nine batters in the lineup, including one from pitcher Hector Yan!
LOOKING AHEAD...
The Royals are back at it in Kitchener tomorrow as they travel to take on the Panthers.
The first pitch is set for 7:30 pm.