Woodbine Racetrack Game Report: Royals Score Winning Run on Unfortunate Injury to Tamane
GUELPH - Not how anyone wants to see a game end.
The Guelph Royals came back to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 on Saturday evening to improve to 26-11 on the season.
With the loss, the Leafs fall to 22-16.
Guelph starter Claudio Custodio picked up the win after pitching eight innings of two-run ball.
The former Toronto Blue Jays farmhand allowed four hits and four walks while striking out 11 Toronto batters.
Royals shortstop Conner Morro went one-for-three with a walk to lead the Royals at the plate.
Guelph closer Andrew Case picked up the save.
Toronto starter Angel Castro took a no-decision in one of his best outings of the season, allowing two earned runs on four hits and two walks in six innings pitched.
The Leafs ace struck out five Royal batters.
Maple Leafs closer Dustin Richardson took as unfortunate of a loss as you can possibly have.
Richardson forced Royals pinch hitter Kyle Kush to groundout to second base on a play that should have ended the eighth inning at 3-3, but Kush was safe at first base on the play -- and Morro scored all the way from second base on the play -- after Maple Leafs second basemen Grant Tamane suffered an injury on the play and was unable to throw anyone out.
TORONTO - 3-4-1
GUELPH - 4-5-2
BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME: No question the injury to Tamane was the biggest play of the game, as his injury also forced reliever Adam Marra to hit in his spot in the ninth inning.
Not exactly how you'd like to see a hard-fought game end.
BY THE NUMBERS...
1. With the loss, the Leafs can no longer finish higher than fourth place in the IBL standings. They are one win away from clinching the four-seed, though, after the Barrie Baycats lost to the London Majors earlier in the day.
This loss also secures a first-round series between the Leafs and Baycats.
3. Custodio has only walked more than three batters in a game three times this season. All three times have come against the Leafs, with Custodio walking four batters in three of his four starts against Toronto this season.
LOOKING AHEAD...
The Leafs look to win their weekend when they host the Brantford Red Sox for the third and final time on Sunday.
Photo: Craig Aikin