MAPLE LEAFS LOSE TO BRANTFORD, EXTEND LOSING STREAK TO FOUR GAMES

Written by: Olivia Byrne

BRANTFORD — After losing to the Brantford Red Sox 22-18 on Wednesday, the Toronto Maple Leafs headed into Friday’s game looking for revenge. Unfortunately, today was not their day, as they lost 6-2.

Down one run early in the game, the Maple Leafs evened things up in the 3rd, when Yordan Manduley hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Spenser Ross. Ross had first reached on a four-pitch walk, then stole second during a Yasiel Puig at bat.

Now tied at one apiece, Toronto entered the back-half of the game looking to take the lead. In the 5th, Ross worked a five-pitch walk. With Puig at-bat once more, Ross made an attempt to steal second. The throw was off-line, and as the ball rolled into the outfield, the Leafs shortstop hustled around to third, making it in safely. 

Two pitches later, Puig would poke the ball up the middle, bringing Ross home.

Continuing a dominant stretch, Nick Veselinovic got the start for the Maple Leafs tonight, recording 9 strikeouts over 6.0 innings. The All-Star righty pitched very well until the 6th, when Brantford gave him some trouble. 

To start off the half-inning, three consecutive batters reached, loading the bases before the first out was recorded. Tim Holyk hit a sac-fly out to JJ Dutton, bringing home Brody Black in the process, evening the score at 2-2. 

With two men on and one out, a wild pitch sent Christian Ortega home with ease. Just one pitch later, Christian Kuzemka would deposit the ball over the right field fence, bringing the score to 5-2.

After the 6th, Veselinovic’s night was done. Frankie Gulko came in to pitch for an inning, then it was Kyle Poapst’s turn. 

Recording the first two outs with ease, Poapst had one man on after issuing a leadoff walk to Cassidy Watt. Watt would advance from first to second on a wild pitch, then was brought home on a single from Francisco Martinez, making the final score 6-2.

UP NEXT: The Maple Leafs head home to take on the Kitchener Panthers on Aug. 22. First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m.