Leafs Close Gap in Race for Home Field with Baycats Beatdown

By Noam Streiffer 

The Toronto Maple Leafs snapped their ten-game home losing streak with a much-needed 10–6 victory over the Barrie Baycats. With the win, the Leafs improve to 15–19 as they head into the final three weeks of the season.

This was all but a must-win game for Toronto, who now sit just 3.5 games back of the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers for home-field advantage in the playoffs.

Franklin Hernandez got the start for the Leafs in this critical matchup and delivered exactly what the team needed. He pitched five innings of shutout baseball, striking out eight Baycats and allowing just three hits.

This performance was crucial for the Leafs as they continue their playoff push.

“A few years ago Franklin was our guy out of the bullpen and he wanted to start, now he’s showing why… he’s got conviction, he competes up there and he’s earned that starting role,” Hernandez’s battery-mate Justin Marra said postgame.

Marra also had an outstanding night at the plate, going 4-for-4 with three RBIs, including a towering two-run home run in the third inning that helped set the tone for Toronto.

His effort also included a double off his former battery-mate Chris Nagorski.

“I know what he's gonna throw me… I joked with him at 2nd base, I said I was waiting for the slider," Marra said postgame.

The home run was part of a six-run third inning further powered by Jhon Javier and Jordan Castaldo, which knocked Baycats starter Johnathan Warden out of the game after just 2.2 innings.

From there, Adam Khan came on in a mop-up role, and the Leafs tacked on more runs. A Luca Boscarino RBI single and a double play that allowed Marcus Knecht to score gave Toronto a comfortable 9–0 lead.

Barrie wouldn’t go down quietly, scoring six runs in the top of the eighth on a combination of bases-loaded walks and well-timed hits, cutting into Toronto’s cushion.

That’s when the Leafs turned to flamethrowing reliever Luis Florentino. He shut things down, retiring the first two batters he faced and giving the Leafs a chance to regroup.

Toronto added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI single from Connor Lewis, though it ultimately proved unnecessary. Florentino returned for the ninth, allowing just one baserunner on a hit-by-pitch, and closed out the game.

Up Next: The Leafs head to London on Friday night to take on the Majors in another critical matchup as they continue their push back to the .500 mark. First pitch from Labatt Memorial Park is scheduled for 7:35 PM.