Panthers Pick up Crucial Win in Hamilton - Halt Losing Skid
7/7/2009

In Hamilton, the Thunderbirds staged a dramatic rally from an 8-1 deficit to force extra innings, only to wind up losing 10-8 to the Kitchener Panthers in 11 innings.


Kitchener led 8-1 but Hamilton scored four runs in the eighth and three more in the ninth, only to lose when Curtis Young hit a two-run homer in the top of the 11th inning to seal the win for the visitors.

Matt Taube also homered for the Panthers, a two-run shot in the first, and Mike Glinka had four of Kitchener"s 10 hits. Matt Cockburn, the fourth Panthers pitcher of the afternoon, got the win. He allowed one run on four hits with one strikeout in 2 2/3 innings of relief.


Ryan Sharpe, the fourth Hamilton pitcher of the game, was the loser in relief. Sharpe went 1 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on two hits with two walks and one strikeout.


John Saporsantos had a solo homer for the Thunderbirds, who slipped to 5-21 on the season.