MAPLE LEAFS STRIKE FIRST, EVENTUALLY LOSE TO KITCHENER

Written by: Olivia Byrne

KITCHENER — In another close battle, the Toronto Maple Leafs lost to the Kitchener Panthers 7-5 on Thursday night.

Toronto opened the scoring early in the 1st, with Yasiel Puig hitting a solo shot to center on the third pitch he saw. 

In the 3rd, Yolki Pena took a five-pitch walk and Spenser Ross hit one off the mound and up the middle, sending Pena to third base easily. Brando Leroux would ground into a double play immediately after, but Pena would come in to score, making it 2-0 for Toronto.

Then, the Maple Leafs ran into trouble. 

After a pop fly was caught to record the first out, three Kitchener batters would reach base in the bottom of the 3rd. A fielder’s choice notched the second out, but then Yosvani Penalver hit one that cleared the center field fence, giving the Panthers a 3-2 lead.

Having all the momentum on their side, Kitchener had another three-run inning in the bottom of the 4th. With the bases loaded, one run came into score off of a sac-fly. Another two came into score when Malik Williams hit a hard grounder that shot up the right field line. 

Heading into the back half of the game with a 6-2 lead, the Panthers tacked on another run in the 7th. Yunior Ibarra singled, bringing home Penalver, who had just stolen second base.

In the 8th inning, Leroux would take a two-out walk. After Puig walked as well, Leroux made a run for third base. As the Maple Leafs shortstop slid into third, he jammed his hand on the bag, taking a while to get up after being tagged out. 

Leroux would leave the game, and Kyle Poapst would come in to replace him.

Down to their last three outs, Toronto had to make something click in the top of the 9th.

JJ Dutton, the first batter of the inning, took a four-pitch walk. Crix Taveras and Marcus Knecht would fly out and strike out, respectively. 

With the final out on the line, Dennis Dei Baning stepped up to the plate and swung at the first pitch he saw. The ball was lasered into right field, sailing over the fence with ease, making it a 7-4 ballgame.

Now that opposing pitcher Jacob Liberta was thrown off his rhythm, Toronto had their chance to strike. Matt Brandt reached safely after Kitchener’s shortstop dropped the ball, and Pena would work the count, walking to first. 

After taking two pitches, Ross swung hard, barrelling the ball down the left field line, plating Brandt and bringing the score to 7-5. 

Poapst, the tying run, was the next batter up. After fouling off three pitches, he would unfortunately ground out to end the game.

UP NEXT: The Maple Leafs continue their road trip, heading to Labatt Park to take on the London Majors on Aug. 14. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.