MAPLE LEAFS FALL TO 2-8 AFTER BLOWOUT LOSS

Written by: Olivia Byrne

TORONTO — It was a rough day for the Maple Leafs at Dominico Field on Wednesday night as they were shut out 10-0 by the Guelph Royals. 

Rookie Camden Dimidjian made his debut on the mound today, but unfortunately ran into trouble early on, surrendering the first run just 11 pitches into the game. 

In the bottom of the 1st, a walk from Yasiel Puig and a single from Dennis Dei Baning put two runners in scoring position, but Toronto couldn’t capitalize. 

For the next two innings, both teams were relatively quiet. However, in the 4th inning, Dimidjian found himself in a tough spot. 

After giving up two hits and a walk to load the bases, Guelph scored one run on a sacrifice fly. Fortunately for Toronto, Dimidjian was able to get out of the jam relatively unscathed. 

Things really began to unravel for the Leafs in the 5th inning, when Dimidjian loaded the bases and gave up another sacrifice fly to extend the Royals’ lead to 3-0. A pitching change brought in Kyle Poapst, who immediately gave up the second sacrifice fly in a row, allowing Guelph to score another run. 

After doubling their lead in just five at-bats, the Royals weren’t stepping off the gas. After the two consecutive sacrifice flies, Guelph singled to left field, scoring another run off of Poapst to extend their lead to 5-0.

The woes for Toronto continued in the 6th, when the Royals hit back-to-back home runs off of Poapst, lengthening their lead to 7-0. A pitching change brought in Frankie Gulko, who was able to end the inning with the help of a double play ball.

Down by seven, Spenser Ross took an impressive six pitch at-bat, which resulted in a single. Ross was one of six men Toronto left on base tonight, as the consecutive batters were unable to bring him home.  

Gulko had hoped to slow Guelph’s momentum, but the Royals were gritty. After giving up a single and a walk, Gulko was able to secure the first two outs in the top of the 7th. Refusing to make the third out an easy one, Guelph singled twice and doubled to score three more runs, furthering their lead to 10-0. 

Toronto showed some signs of life in the bottom of the 9th after Benjamin Sitarenios hit a hard ground ball to get on base. Two batters later, JJ Dutton was hit by a pitch, giving the Maple Leafs a runner in scoring position. 

A flyout to end the game dashed Toronto’s comeback hopes, as the Maple Leafs walked off the field being shut out for the first time this season. 

Throughout the night, the Maple Leafs had just five hits compared to Guelph’s 16. 

UP NEXT: The Maple Leafs head to Kitchener on Friday night to take on the Panthers. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.