MAPLE LEAFS WIN IN THRILLER AGAINST GUELPH
Written by: Olivia Byrne
GUELPH—In their first game back from the All-Star Break, the Toronto Maple Leafs won 7-4 against the Guelph Royals.
After three games in a row had been cancelled due to air quality and inclement weather, the Maple Leafs were eager to get back to baseball, getting things started almost right away in tonight’s game. Brando Leroux batted leadoff, and after seeing just two pitches, drove the ball into right field to get on base for Toronto’s first hit of the game.
With Yasiel Puig now at the plate, it didn’t take him long to find a pitch he liked. Puig swung hard, driving the ball into center field and sending Leroux home with ease. Hustling hard around the bases, the Leafs outfielder stopped at third base, giving him an RBI triple to open the scoring for Toronto.
With a one-run lead early in the game, Nick Veselinovic took the mound for the Leafs - but Guelph wasn’t going to make it easy for him.
The first Guelph batter of the game, Franklin Torres, drew a five-pitch walk. After a quick groundout to record the first out, Veselinovic then found himself in an intense battle with Miguel Hiraldo.
During the at-bat, a passed ball allowed Torres to advance into scoring position. The nine-pitch showdown resulted in an RBI sacrifice fly for Hiraldo, tying the score at 1-1.
The Royals continued to put pressure on Veselinovic during the 1st inning, where he got into another intense matchup with Victor Mascai, lasting 12 pitches. Despite being put to work early, Veselinovic finished the inning cleanly.
Looking to add on, the Leafs headed into the 2nd picking right up where they left off, as Spenser Ross worked a five-pitch walk to bring up Matt Brandt.
As Brandt stood at the plate, a passed ball allowed Ross to advance into scoring position. A few pitches later, Brandt nearly grounded out, but a poor throw resulted in the ball getting away from Guelph’s first baseman, bringing Ross in to score.
A quick out for the Maple Leafs then brought up Crix Taveras, who swung at the third pitch he saw and sent it deep into center field. Taveras plated both Ross and Brandt, bringing Toronto’s lead to 4-1.
Veselinovic returned for the 2nd, giving up a double to Ryan Dos Santos, the first batter he faced. After recording his first strikeout of the evening, a passed ball allowed Dos Santos to advance to third base.
Just two batters later, a sacrifice fly plated Dos Santos, cutting Toronto’s lead to 4-2.
In the bottom of the 3rd, Guelph scored another run off of a triple from Mascai to make it a 4-3 ballgame.
With their lead reduced to one run, Toronto knew they would have to score some insurance runs. In the top of the 5th, Leroux singled to center field to once again bring up Puig, who already notched an RBI triple earlier in the game.
The third pitch Puig saw, he swung hard. As the ball sailed far past the left field fence, both Leroux and Puig were plated to make it 6-3.
The Royals would soon get one back the next half inning, as Mascai hit a solo shot off of Veselinovic.
From there, both teams were quiet, with Toronto leading 6-4. In the top of the 9th, Taveras sent the ball over right field and into the grass of Hastings Stadium, bringing the final score to 7-4.
With tonight’s win, the Maple Leafs are no longer in last place in the CBL standings. They move to 7-17 on the season.
UP NEXT: The Maple Leafs head to Athletic Kulture Stadium to take on the Barrie Baycats tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 3:08 p.m.