Cardinals outlast Baycats in extras - headed to first finals since 2002

BARRIE – Reyny Reyes picked the perfect moment to go deep. The Cardinals third baseman launched a solo home run to left field in the top of the 11th inning, and Hamilton held on for a 5-4 win over the Barrie Baycats on Saturday afternoon at Athletic Kulture Stadium, clinching the best-of-seven semi-final 4-2 and booking the club's first finals appearance since 2002. Hamilton grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first when Reyes ripped a two-run single to right, plating Brandon Nicoll and Carlos Dominguez. The score stayed that way until the sixth, when Barrie finally solved Owen Boon. Nolan Machibroda singled home Francisco Hernandez, and Brandon Hernandez swiped home on the back end of a double steal to tie it 2-2. Evan Magill answered for Hamilton in the seventh with an RBI double to centre that scored Trevor Nicoll. But the Baycats clawed back in the eighth against Danny Garcia, getting an RBI single from Machibroda and another run when Noel McGarry Doyle scored on a wild double steal sequence to knot it 4-4. Angel Guerrero lifted a sacrifice fly to centre in the ninth to give the Cardinals a 4-3 edge, but Barrie's Francisco Hernandez delivered the equalizer in the bottom half, forcing extra innings. Freisis Adames worked two scoreless innings in relief to earn the win, striking out three. In the 11th, Reyes turned on an Oscar Moreta pitch and sent it over the left-field wall for his third RBI of the day and the first extra-innings blast of the series. Logan Warkentin slammed the door in the bottom of the 11th, working around a leadoff single by Machibroda to lock down his first career playoff save and set off the celebration. Boon got the start and pitched well, allowing two runs on seven hits over six innings. Saul Vasquez took the no-decision for Barrie after giving up three runs over 6.2 frames. Moreta was tagged with the loss. Machibroda finished 4-for-5 with two RBI for the Baycats. Reyes led the Cardinals with three RBI, while Magill went 2-for-5 with a double. The Cardinals now move on to face the Welland Jackfish in the CBL championship series. Game 1 is set for Friday, September 18, at 7:35 p.m. from Bernie Arbour Stadium. Game 3 will be back in Hamilton on Sunday, September 20, at 4:05 p.m.