Panthers double up Cardinals, take game one in best-of-seven

The Kitchener Panthers took game one of their first round playoff series against the Hamilton Cardinals, 12-6 Thursday night at Jack Couch Park.

The Panthers scored six runs in the second inning and never looked back.

Tanner Nivins, Jonathan Brouse and Sean Reilly hit back-to-back-to-back home runs and took a 6-0 lead into the third. Tanner Nivins finished the game 3-for-5, with two runs and two RBI’s. Mike Gordner added two hits of his own in four at-bats with two RBI’s and one walk.

The Cardinals were held to just three runs until the ninth inning. They scored three runs on four hits against relief pitcher Phil Owen. Hamilton would end up cutting the Panthers lead in half with a single after a wild pitch advanced two runners for the Cards. The late comeback would fall short giving Kitchener the win.

Chris Beer was a bright spot for the Cardinals. He went 2-for-4 scoring two runs and two RBI’s with one walk.

Panthers starter Ian Rendon went six solid innings, giving up six hits and two runs, striking out eight and walking four.

Matt Vickers pitched a clean seventh inning in relief facing four batters. The Panthers lead the best-of-seven series, 1-0. Game two will be played Saturday at Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium in Hamilton.

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