Leafs Fall 3-1 in Pitcher's Duel Against Hamilton

By Noam Streiffer

The Leafs dropped their second game in a row in a 3-1 pitchers' duel against the Hamilton Cardinals. This loss brings the Leafs below .500 and drops them down to 5th place in the standings.

Wilgenis Alvarado got the start for the Leafs and pitched excellently, allowing just one run over six innings while striking out 11. His best start of the season to this point.

Hamilton sent Owen Boon to the mound, and he also pitched well, going six innings and allowing one run while striking out 10 Leafs hitters.

The Cardinals struck first in the bottom of the 2nd when Johnathan Solazzo came around to score on a fielder's choice from Tommy Reyes-Cruz, giving the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.

Hamilton maintained that lead until the top of the 6th when Ryan Dos Santos came around to score on an RBI single from Rando Moreno to tie things up.

After the 6th, it became a battle of the bullpens. The Leafs turned to Sam Spencer to finish things off. He made one mistake pitch in the bottom of the 7th that resulted in a two-run home run to Brandon Nicoll, giving the Cardinals a 3-1 lead.

The Cardinals sent out Corben Peters, Steven Hospital, and legendary ex-MLB closer Fernando Rodney, who combined for three innings of shutout ball while striking out five to secure the win for Hamilton.

Up Next: The Leafs head home on Sunday, June 15th, to Dominico Field to take on the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers, hoping to get back in the win column. First pitch at 2:00 PM.