Royals Pull Away in Eighth to Win Pitchers Duel Against Leafs
GUELPH -- Unfortunate.
The Guelph Royals beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1 on Tuesday evening to improve to 11-7 on the season.
With the loss, the Maple Leafs go to 11-8.
Guelph starter Claudio Custodio continued his dominant season with another strong outing, picking up the win in seven innings of work while allowing no earned runs on five hits and one walk while striking out 11 batters.
Royals designated hitter and former Maple Leaf Sean Reilly led the way at the plate, going two-for-three with a home run and a walk.
Guelph reliever Brandon Deans picked up the save.
Toronto starter Zach Sloan took the loss despite an impressive outing of his own, allowing two earned runs on four hits and two walks in five innings of work.
The southpaw struck out seven Guelph batters.
TORONTO - 1-6-0
GUELPH - 4-9-1
BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME: Up 2-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Royals first basemen Justin Interisano hit a base hit to score Royals right fielder JD Williams from third base.
The hit, which all but put the game away for the Royals, came off of reliever Adam Marra, who had to come in cold due to Leafs closer Dustin Richardson exiting the game unexpectedly.
BY THE NUMBERS...
5. The Royals, who the Leafs face two more times this week, are now on a five-game winning streak.
9. The loss wraps up an otherwise successful month for the Leafs, who went 9-4 in June.
12. Both the Leafs and Royals struck out 12 times on the evening.
LOOKING AHEAD...
The Leafs return to Guelph on Saturday to face these very same Royals before hosting Guelph on Sunday.
Photo: Craig Aikin