Logan's walk-off homer lifts Baycats to win
Sports
Posted By LUKE EDWARDS, SPECIAL TO THE EXAMINER
Updated 2 months ago
Matt Logan wasn't looking for a change-up on a 2-0 count in the 10th inning Thursday night, but when he got it, he sure knew what to do with it.
Logan took the offering from Guelph reliever Ryan Hart over the right-field wall to walk-off against the Royals, giving the first-place Barrie Baycats a thrilling 6-5 win.
"I definitely wasn't looking change up, but it came in over the plate," Logan said.
The walk-off home run secured yet another victory for the Baycats, who have now won eight of their last nine games and continue to stay atop the IBL standings with a 14-3 record.
While Logan got the glory with his late-game heroics, it was the bottom of the order that provided the bulk of offence. Matt Richardson and Phil Steer scored four of the six Barrie runs, while occupying the eight and nine spots in the lineup. Steer scored three runs on three walks and two stolen bases.
Thursday's game was a change in the recent trend of Barrie games. For most of June, it has been Barrie's starting pitching that has won them ball games. However, Thursday's starter, Paul Spoljaric, didn't provide the dominant starting pitching the Baycats had received in recent weeks.
That's not to say Spoljaric was bad, but he didn't seem to have his best stuff and had to battle through a 6 1/3-inning start. He got off to a rough start, giving up a three-run home run to Mark Allen in the first inning.
Spoljaric settled down after that, holding the Royals in check until the seventh inning. In the seventh, Spoljaric walked two batters and gave up a single before getting pulled with two on and one out.
He was charged with five runs, as reliever Chris England was unable to strand the runners he inherited.
Aside from Thursday's start, and a bullpen meltdown against Toronto earlier in June, Barrie's pitching staff has dominated opposing hitters this month. The Baycats boast a strong and deep pitching staff.
"We have five starters who can go up against anyone in the league. I've got guys in the bullpen fighting for innings who could be quality starters on other teams," said Baycats manager Angus Roy.
The bullpen has been equally strong for Barrie, as the trio of Kyle Payne, Chris England and Doug Dimma all have ERAs of 2.35 or lower coming out of the pen. England and Payne were once again strong for Barrie on Thursday, pitching 3 2/3 innings of shutout ball in relief of Spoljaric. Payne got the win on Thursday, pitching a scoreless 10th frame.
"Early in the season, our offence was carrying the load. Now, it's flipped and our pitching staff is hot, but we're still getting enough hits," said Roy.
Barrie's pitching staff has cut their runs-against per game in half. After averaging five runs against a game in May, the Baycats were averaging a paltry 2.3 runs against per game in June heading into Thursday.
Roy said when a team has as much pitching depth as Barrie has, it's tough as a manager to make sure his pitchers are all getting enough quality innings. However, Roy said -- and most managers would probably agree -- it's a great problem to have.
Barrie hosts Ottawa in a doubleheader Saturday.
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