Six Homers & Strong Pitching Drive Majors Past Chatham
Written by: Evan Frederiksen / Photo by Matt Hiscox
Pitching, power and production. If you can display all three of these factors in a baseball game, there’s a good chance you’ll come out on the winning side. The London Majors were the perfect example of that Tuesday night at Fergie Jenkins Field, delivering a complete team performance to take down the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers 9-2.
Mizuki Akatsuka was on the mound for the Barnstormers, and the native of Japan had flashes of consistency but ultimately struggled against the Majors, throwing eighty-nine pitches through five innings, giving up five earned runs on six hits while striking out five.
The Majors' offence, which entered the contest with a team. 899 OPS and thirty-nine home runs continued to show power up-and-down their lineup. Eduardo De Oleo got the offence rolling for the Majors, hitting his third home run of the season to left field, giving the Majors a 1-0 lead. David Draayers then hit a no-doubt solo bomb to right, extending the Majors' lead to 2-0 in the second inning.
Majors ace Victor Payano got the nod and did what he’s done all season, giving London another quality start. Payano, who entered the contest having pitched six or more innings in six of his last seven starts, kept the Barnstormers’ bats quiet throughout the night. The left-hander delivered six strong innings, allowing just one earned run on five hits while striking out three. Zac Laird, Caleb Cassie and Kade Douglas all pitched in relief of Payano.
Akatsuka bounced back with scoreless third and fourth innings but ran into more trouble in the top of the fifth. Maikol Escotto opened the top half of the frame with a solo shot to right field before Cristian Inoa followed with a two-run homer of his own, also to right field, extending the Majors' lead to 5-1.
Majors Key Performers:
Maikol Escotto: Powered the offence with a 3-for-5 night, launching two home runs (No. 8 and No. 9) while driving in three runs. Continues to be one of best hitters in the CBL.
Victor Payano: Turned in another dominant outing, tossing six strong innings while allowing just one run on five hits over 72 pitches to earn his sixth win of the season, tied for the CBL lead.
Cristian Inoa: Continues to be an on base machine, 3-for-5 night, launched a 2 run home run (No. 6) while driving in 2 runs. (Has reached base safely in 9 of his last 10 games).
The Barnstormers' bullpen, which entered the contest with a 7.86 ERA, also ran into some rocky innings against the Majors' offence. Maikol Escotto would add an RBI single in the top of the sixth. Trent Lenihan also joined in on the fun with an RBI double of his own, extending the Majors' lead to 7-1.
The top of the eighth inning rolled around, and Maikol Escotto continued his dominant first half of the season at the plate, launching another solo home run to give him nine on the year, which leads the CBL. Tucker Zdunich then capped off the Majors’ thirteen-hit attack with a home run of his own, extending London’s lead to 9-2.
Chatham managed just two runs, one on a solo home run by Greyson Barrett in the bottom of the fourth and an RBI single by Lee Kucera in the bottom of the seventh.
The Majors improve to 17-8 on the season, 7-6 on the road. They’ll look to keep their momentum rolling Friday, July 10, when the 13-10 Guelph Royals visit Labatt Memorial Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.