Leafs’ Win Streak Snapped in 14-5 Loss to Barnstormers

By: Noam Streiffer

The Toronto Maple Leafs struggled in their latest outing, falling 14-5 to the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers and ending their four-game win streak.

Josh Berenbaum got the start for the Leafs and gave the team some much-needed length, pitching five innings. However, he ran into trouble, allowing six runs on ten hits.

Chatham-Kent countered with Christian Hauck, who had a solid performance, tossing five innings while giving up three earned runs on seven hits.

The Barnstormers opened the scoring right away. Evan Morrison led off the game with a solo home run, followed later by a wild pitch that allowed Braxton Haggith and Mitsuki Fukuda to score, giving the Barnstormers an early 3-0 lead.

Toronto answered in the top of the second with a two-run home run from Marcus Knecht, cutting the deficit to one.

The Barnstormers responded quickly, scoring their fourth run on an RBI single from Fukuda.

The Leafs kept battling and tied the game at 4 in the top of the third, scoring two runs on back-to-back Chatham-Kent errors.

But the momentum swung back in the Barnstormers’ favor in the bottom of the fifth. An RBI single from Morrison and an error by the Leafs' third baseman allowed Anthony Polowick to score, making it 6-4.

Toronto got one back in the top of the sixth on Knecht’s second home run of the game, narrowing the gap to 6-5. Unfortunately for the Leafs, that would be the end of their offense for the day.

In the bottom of the sixth, Chatham-Kent blew the game wide open. The Barnstormers scored eight runs, capitalizing on poor Toronto defense and capping the rally with a Spencer Marcus home run.

Eric Pettipiece closed things out for Chatham-Kent, pitching three shutout innings and allowing just two hits to secure the 14-5 win.

Up next: The Leafs return home to face the Welland Jackfish at Dominico Field. First pitch is set for Sunday, June 8 at 2:00 PM.