MAPLE LEAFS FALL SHORT OF A LATE COMEBACK, LOSE 3-2 TO GUELPH
Written by: Olivia Byrne
Down by three runs until the 8th inning, the Toronto Maple Leafs could not complete a comeback, losing 3-2 to the Guelph Royals on Sunday night.
Yuto Nakata took the mound for Toronto tonight for his first start since Aug. 1. After a clean first inning, the righty pitcher ran into some trouble in the 2nd.
After seeing three pitches, Garrett Takamatsu hit one into center field for Guelph’s first hit of the game. Nakata would record the next two outs on just four pitches, but gave up a single to Nathaniel Ochoa almost immediately after.
A soft pop-up hit into right field, Takamatsu hustled around the bases and into home safely, putting the first run on the board for the Royals.
Following that one run, Nakata got right back into the groove of things, recording seven consecutive outs over 2.1 innings. It was smooth sailing until the 5th, when J.D. Williams and Ochoa came along.
Williams, the leadoff man this inning, stepped into the box ready to make Nakata work. After swinging at the first pitch he saw, the Guelph center fielder took three balls in a row, then swung again for a full count. On the seventh pitch of the at-bat, Williams worked a walk.
The next batter up was Ochoa. On the second pitch he faced, Williams safely stole second to put himself in scoring position. Nakata would then throw two strikes in a row, making the count 1-2. After another seven pitches, Ochoa would walk, and Williams would safely slide into third.
A quick flyout to Dennis Dei Baning plated Guelph’s second run of the game. Immediately after, Nakata gave up a triple that would send Ochoa home, making it 3-0 for the Royals.
With time slowly running out, the Maple Leafs began to heat up in the 8th. Crix Taveras, the first man to bat this inning, battled with opposing pitcher Andrew Case. Taveras would eventually strike out, but not before getting Case to throw six pitches, hoping to wear his arm down early.
Then came Yasiel Puig, who immediately hit one into center field for a one-out double. Up next was Yolki Pena, who flew out on four pitches.
With two outs and a man on second, Dei Baning hit one up the left field line, just squeaking it past the Guelph third baseman. Puig hustled around third, arriving at home safely and cutting Toronto’s deficit to two runs.
Hoping to keep the party going, Marcus Knecht singled into right field on the second pitch he saw. Unfortunately, Kyle Poapst would strike out to end the inning.
Heading into the 9th still down 3-1, this was the Maple Leafs’ last chance. Spenser Ross got things started for Toronto, reaching on a throwing error by the Royals’ shortstop. Matt Brandt struck out swinging on four pitches, then Brando Leroux hit into a 6-3 groundout, another four pitches later.
Down to their final out, Taveras wasn’t going down without a fight. Swinging at the first pitch he saw, the second baseman used patience to his advantage as he worked the count. On the sixth pitch of the at-bat, Taveras hit one just through Guelph’s shortstop and into left field.
As the ball rolled, Ross hustled around the bases, sliding into home to make it a one-run ballgame.
Next up was Puig, who currently leads the CBL in home runs with 15. Guelph, wanting no part of the superstar’s slugging business, intentionally walked the outfielder before he faced a pitch.
With the leading run on first base, up came Pena. Unfortunately, the lefty got just under a pitch, sending it right into the glove of Guelph’s shortstop to end the game.
Yordan Manduley was notably not in today’s lineup after being injured on Saturday against the Hamilton Cardinals. With tonight’s loss, Toronto moves to 12-23 on the season.
UP NEXT: The Maple Leafs head to Jack Couch Park to play the Kitchener Panthers on Aug. 13. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.