Game 25: Frustration Again - Kitchener Panthers @ Toronto, June 30

The Toronto Maple Leafs continued their season-long Jekyll and Hyde show at Christie Pits today - a show that has brought frustration to the team, its owner, and its fans - and has finally driven this correspondent to drink.

It was in the top of the 7th and the Kitchener Panthers had already run up a 9-1 score.  The day's starter, Rick Brooks, had been replaced by Scott Kelly to start the inning.  The first Panthers batter up ran a 2-2 count, then blasted a solo home run to make it 10-1.  That was the end of it for me.  Beyond frustrated and slightly dazed, I got up and marched out of the park.  All the way to the subway and the two trains that brought me back downtown, where I plowed through the explosion of noise and sparkles that is the annual Pride Parade, and straight into the local liquor store.

Now, some time later - and many drinks later - I'm writing up this recap and the frustration lingers.  The Maple Leafs are locked in a terrible fugue state: they win a game, then they lose a game.  Win, lose, win, lose... they are running in place and stuck in the middle of the standings.

Sure, I'm an angry drunk right now.  But everyone is frustrated with this.  The old man on the hill, he bellowed his discontent throughout the game.  The diehards - the crazy people who are there every game - they were baying for pitching changes that came too late.  The players were frustrated too.  Batting helmets were slammed.  The bench was tense.  The Pits were not a happy place today.

Of course, everything could change again tomorrow, when the Maple Leafs play in London for Canada Day.  Not sure if I'll be there.  The Leafs will be there of course, but which Leafs will show up?  Jekyll?  Or Hyde?

Recap:

The Maple Leafs hosted the Kitchener Panthers at Christie Pits under sunny skies, and the game got off to a quick start with both teams going scoreless in the first inning.

The Leafs struck first in the 2nd inning, as catcher Will Richards hit a solo home run off Kitchener starter Mike McGillivray to give the home side an early 1-0 lead.

In the top of the 3rd inning, the Panthers took the lead on a bases-loaded double by leftfielder Jeff Pietrasko that brought two runners in to score. 

The Panthers increased their lead in the top of the 5th.  Centerfielder Tanner Nivins hit a two-run home run off Toronto starter Rick Brooks to make it 4-1 for the visitors.

Kitchener blew the game open in the 6th inning, scoring five runs off four hits and two errors.  It was a brutal inning that started with a walk and a double, followed by an RBI single by first baseman Mike Winter.  Catcher Kaiden Bowers drove another run in on a fielder's choice.  Nivins was up next, and his single off Brooks ended up bringing in two more runs.  Another single by third baseman Mat Taube drove in one more run and the Panthers had blown the game open 9-1 after 6 innings.

Pietrasko hit a leadoff home run off reliever Scott Kelly that made it 10-1 after 7 innings.

The Leafs mounted a comeback in the bottom of the 8th inning, scoring four runs off the bat of pinch hitter Sean Mattson, who came in to bat for third baseman Damon Topolie.  It began with first baseman Sean Reilly getting hit by a pitch from reliever Rick Murray.  That was followed by a single from catcher Will Richards and a walk to shortstop Cody Mombourquette to load the bases.  Mattson came up to the plate next.  I was already en route to the liquor store by that point, but I can envision Mattson's quiet approach at the plate, becoming totally still as the pitcher goes into his windup.  On the first pitch, Mattson blasted a grand slam.  The Panthers' lead was cut in half as Mattson completed his home run trot to make it 10-5 after the 8th.

But whatever hope might have been stoked in the hearts of the remaining fans was soon doused by a five-run 9th inning by Kitchener.  It came off two home runs - two cruel home runs.  First, DH Bryon Bell hit a 2-run dinger.  Then, Nivins hit his second of the game, a three-run shot that made the score 15-5 going into the bottom of the 9th.

Reilly hit a two-run homer of his own in the bottom of the 9th, but that was all she wrote for the Leafs on this day, and they ended up on the losing side of a 15-7 score.

The Maple Leafs are now 9-13, alone in 5th place and 11 games behind the league-leading Brantford Red Sox.  Their next game is in London on Canada Day, against the London Majors.



Game 24: Someone Else's Heartbreaker - Maple Leafs @ Barrie, June 27

The mosquitos were the only happy residents of Barrie last night, after the Toronto Maple Leafs prevailed in a see-saw, extra innings battle with the hometown Baycats.

The Leafs dug deep to stop a couple of Barrie rallies late in the game, while pounding out 15 hits for a 9-8 victory in 10 innings.

Great swings of momentum featured throughout.  The Leafs got off to a huge start, taking a 5-0 lead after two innings, but the Baycats roared back with seven unanswered runs.  The Leafs jumped back ahead, only to see Barrie tie the game.  The late innings were tense and scoreless, before the Leafs went ahead for good in the 10th and slammed the door.

While this was going on, I was slamming mosquitos left and right.  You know you've entered the near North when these relentless monsters appear.  Dwarfing any garden-variety skeeter you'll find in Toronto, these things were like something out of H.P. Lovecraft - huge, fearless, terrifying.  Listen to the poor delicate city boy!

Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating the extent of the horror, but they got on my nerves.  There was a nervy feel to the night.  Barrie's fans kept riding the home plate umpire over close calls.  Barrie starter Adam Rowe had a go at him too at one point.  The Torontonians, featuring human megaphone Glenn Jackson, were pumped and loud, to the annoyance of some.  "Not enough mustard for that hot dog," one old-timer grumbled.  All this edginess was stoked by the closeness of the contest, and the constant menace of the mosquitos. 

Ultimately, it was a team victory for the Leafs.  Every batter got at least one hit, RBI or run scored.  Borjas and Waltenbury each had four hits.  Mombourquette tripled.  Arias made a game-saving throw to home.  Five different batters drove in runs, including Reilly with the game-winner.  Major and Garner kept the score close enough for Pace and Cicatello to slam the door.

And so Toronto's up-and-down season returned to the winning side of things.  If they can pull together and deliver like this again, they will win many more games and break many more hearts in the second half of the season.


Recap:

The Barrie Baycats took to the field wearing camo jerseys that blended into the coniferous greenery that surrounds Schmidt and Shaw Stadium.

Toronto Maple Leafs leftfielder Raul Borjas led off with a single off Barrie starter Adam Rowe.  Borjas was out on a fielder's choice by the next man up, second baseman Dan Marra.  Rightfielder Jon Waltenbury made his return to Barrie and was greeted with applause before rapping a double that moved Marra to third.  A groundout by first baseman Sean Reilly brought Marra home and it was 1-0 Leafs after the 1st inning.

The Leafs built up a head of steam in the 2nd inning, scoring four more runs on three hits and a couple of errors.  Third baseman Sean Mattson walked and catcher Damon Topolie singled.  A wild throw to first base allowed Mattson to cruise into third.  DH Glenn Jackson grounded into a fielder's choice that held Mattson at third, got Topolie out at second, and allowed him to reach first.  Centerfielder Branfy Arias then drove Mattson home and was safe on a fielder's choice.  Borjas then hit one to right field that was played for an error by Ryan Spataro.  This allowed Borjas to reach second, Arias to reach third, and Jackson to score.  A sac fly by Marra brought Arias home.  Waltenbury came up to bat for the second time in the game.  He paused and threw his bat back, then deked over to the Barrie bench and picked one out from there, to everyone's amusement.  Waltenbury used his new-old lumber to stroke a double that scored Borjas and make it 5-0 Leafs midway through the 2nd.

The baseball gods giveth, and they taketh away.  Baycats second baseman Jason Coker walked and stole second, then scored on a flyball by leftfielder Brandon Dhue that Waltenbury dropped for an error.  5-1 Leafs after the 2nd.

The 'Cats clawed back another run in the next inning.  Catcher Kyle DeGrace was hit by a pitch from starter Marc-Andre Major.  DeGrace stole second and tagged up for third on a long flyball by first baseman Jordan Castaldo.  A groundout by shortstop Kyle Gilligan brought DeGrace home.  5-2 Leafs after the 3rd.

Baycats DH Jonathan Fernandez led off the bottom of the 4th inning.  This is where I'm obligated to mention that Fernandez is the son of a former Major League player who is well-known to baseball fans in Ontario.  The Maple Leafs got their first look at Fernandez in this game - in fact, they'd see him at the plate twice in this inning as the Baycats batted around and scored five runs.

Fernandez started the 4th with a walk, then made a blur of himself on the basepaths, stealing second and third.  A single by Dhue scored him.  I snuck over to the snack bar for a cheeseburger, and moved to another part of the park in time to see a mound conference going on.  It seemed something was up with Major's arm.  He had walked another batter, his fifth of the game, and he was relieved by Adam Garner.  The Baycats took advantage of the sudden change, scoring four more runs on four singles off Garner.  By the time Fernandez came up again and ended the inning with a groundout, it was 7-5 for the home side.

Now was the moment of reckoning for the Maple Leafs.  Would they fold or would they fight back?

The answer came in the 6th inning, when they fought back to retake the lead and drive Rowe from the game.  Topolie and Jackson both singled, then an error by Gilligan allowed Arias to reach first and load em up.  Topolie came home on a sac fly by Borjas.  Jackson then scored on a single by Marra that tied the game and brought hoots of derision from the Barrie fans.  They jeered manager Angus Roy for leaving Rowe on the mound too long for their liking.  Reliever Josh Soffer was unable to keep the score tied, giving up an RBI single to Waltenbury.  Arias crossed home plate and the Leafs were back ahead, 8-7.

In the bottom of the 6th, one mammoth swing by Kyle DeGrace sent a Garner pitch high over the left field fence, possibly even over the high hedges beyond.  And just like that, the game was tied again.  Franco Pace relieved Garner and walked his first batter to load the bases, but he was able to get Dhue to pop out and end the threat.

Now both sides hunkered down as night set in and swarms of mosquitos descended upon the park.

The Leafs were held scoreless through the 7th, 8th and 9th innings.  Justin Cicatello, who had come in to start the 8th, got into trouble by walking Dhue to lead off the 9th.  A daring two-strike sacrifice bunt by centerfielder Garrett Ferguson moved Dhue to second.  Ryan Spataro was intentionally walked to set up the double play, but the next man up - DeGrace - hit a pop fly to Marra for the second out.  For Toronto, the next at bat delivered what was likely the play of the game.  Former Maple Leaf Jordan Castaldo hit a long single to centerfield and the race to the plate was on.  Dhue broke from second and rounded third, steaming for home.  The fans roared in anticipation.  But Branfy Arias fielded the ball cleanly and launched a throw straight to Topolie.  Topolie made the catch and Dhue was gunned down at the plate.  The fans went silent as the Toronto bench erupted.

The Baycats returned to the field and it was another former Maple Leaf - Brett Lawson - now on the mound.  With one out, Lawson gave up singles to Borjas and Marra, then walked Waltenbury intentionally to load the bases.  Sean Reilly stepped up to the plate and delivered a calm, relaxed sac fly to bring Borjas home.  It was now 9-8 Leafs going into the bottom of the 10th.

The home side did not go quietly in the 10th.  Gilligan made it to first on a grounder to Mombourquette.  He then stole second, but was stuck there on a fly out by third baseman Kevin Atkinson, which was caught by defensive replacement Rob Gillis.  Gilligan raced to third on a wild pitch by Cicatello, who made up for it by striking out the next batter.  He then got Fernandez to ground out to Mombourquette for the final out of the game, and it was a heartbreaker for Barrie.

The Maple Leafs are now 9-12 and tied for fifth place with the Hamilton Cardinals.  Both teams are 10.5 games behind the Brantford Red Sox.  Toronto's next game is back home at Christie Pits against the Kitchener Panthers on June 30.

Game 23: Leafs' Scoring Assault Falls Short - Hamilton Cardinals @ Toronto, June 26

The Toronto Maple Leafs launched a devastating scoring assault against the Hamilton Cardinals last night at Christie Pits. 

The Leafs rocked the visiting team's pitchers for 16 hits and 7 runs and continued to put runs on the board in a big way, as they have been all this week.  The Swingin' Seans - Reilly and Mattson - each blasted a 2-run home run.  Those were the exclamation points on a night when every Leafs batter but one got a hit, and most of them got two or more.  Truly an awesome display of power.

Hamilton scored 15 runs.

These are the hardest games to write about.  It was mostly shit.  The Leafs had a shit game.  My photos were shit.  This write up?  It will probably be shit too.

Everything was slightly off last night.  The pitching was off.  The hitting was off.  Sure the Leafs scored runs, but the Cardinals scored twice as many, plus one.  I couldn't stay still for the entire game.  Maybe it was the heat, or the mosquitos, or some deep rooted inner dread that made things unsettled.  I moved around the park so much it made the ADHD people nervous.  Maybe all the crazies at the park are getting to me.  Maybe I am becoming one of them.

Let's skip the inner reflection for now.  The Leafs are on the road in Barrie this evening.  Will their inconsistent season continue with an upswing and a big win?  We will find out a few hours from now.


Recap:

The Maple Leafs got off to a booming start in the 1st inning, as first baseman Sean Reilly hit a two-run home run off Cardinals starter Matt Martinow.  That was followed by an RBI single by catcher Damon Topolie that scored third baseman Sean Mattson, who singled earlier.  In all, the Leafs got five hits and three runs to start the game.

Leafs starter Marek Deska cruised through the first couple of innings without giving up a hit, but then the Hamilton barrage began.  Deska gave up three hits in the 3rd inning, including a 3-run blast by Cardinals centerfielder Andris Rizquez that cleared the trees beyond the left field fence.

The Leafs got one back in the bottom of the 3rd.  Mattson doubled and was driven home on a single by centerfielder Cody Mombourquette.  It was 4-3 after 3 and the Leafs were looking lively.

But the Cards kept coming.  Catcher Zack Sardellitti singled and went to second on an error by shortstop Branfy Arias.  Second baseman Chris Beer singled and sent Sardellitti to third.  Deska then walked third baseman Johnathan Solazzo to load the bases.  The dam burst on the next at bat.  Shortstop Michael Gottschalk singled past the middle infielders to score Sardellitti.  The throw back in was fielded by Deska, who tried to nail the advancing runner Beer at third.  The throw was too high over Mattson, and Beer rounded for home.  When it was all over, Gottschalk was on second base, Solazzo was on third, and two runs had been scored.  Shit hit the fan.  Solazzo and Gottschalk both ended up scoring in an inning that saw costly errors hand the Cardinals a 7-4 lead.

The Cards piled it on in the top of the 5th.  DH Daniel Jagdeo led off with a home run to right that was high enough and no-doubt enough that rightfielder Jon Waltenbury didn't even flinch.  Deska hit the next batter, then gave up another single before being relieved by Drew Taylor.  Unfortunately Taylor wasn't able to halt the barrage.  He gave up a three-run homer to Solazzo and an RBI single to Rizquez.  It was 12-4 Hamilton after the 5th inning.

A scoreless sixth led to another rough inning for the Leafs, this time with Cam Grey on the mound.  A single, walk and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, then Salazzo scored (for the fourth time) on a wild pitch.  A walk loaded the bases again, and Grey walked in another run to make it 14-4 going into the bottom of the 7th.

The Leafs' bats reawakened in the bottom of the frame as Ryan Van Spronsen came on in relief of Martinow.  The two Seans teamed up, with Reilly hitting a single and Mattson hitting a home run.  For Mattson, it was his second homer in two games.  If there was such a thing as home run fireworks at the Pits, Mattson would have earned himself the nickname "The Detonator" this week.  Leftfielder Glenn Jackson added another run with an RBI single that made it 14-7 after 7 innings.

Solazzo put one more run on the board with an RBI single in the 8th.  The Leafs could not get anything else going and the game ended 15-7.  The Leafs are finally scoring, but they have traded away three pitchers in recent weeks, and the lack of arms might be hurting them now.

Toronto's loss drops them to 8-12, and they have slipped below the Cardinals into sixth place, 10.5 games behind the Brantford Red Sox.  Their next game is later today, on the road at the Barrie Baycats.

Game 22: Hot Hot Heat at the Pits - London Majors @ Toronto, June 23

The race for the IBL championship heated up on a sweltering day that saw the Toronto Maple Leafs come from behind twice to rock the London Majors and render their manager Roop Chanderdat a raving mess by the end of the game. 

Outraged by seeing his team blow two leads in dramatic fashion, Chanderdat turned his fury on the home plate umpire during the 8th inning, threatening to set him on fire.  That got him tossed from the game.  Then he threatened to set himself on fire in protest, in the manner of the Buddhist monks of Tibet.  Chanderdat was hauled off the field for his own safety and parked near a water cooler.

This spectacle unfolded after the Maple Leafs pounded out 12 hits and 8 runs, with 5 RBIs coming from the lower third of the order: Sean Mattson and Damon Topolie drove in 3 and 2 runs respectively.

The Leafs team that took the field at Christie Pits today showed a different makeup.  New arrival Sean Reilly started at first base, triggering a domino effect that moved Will Richards to catcher, Topolie to third base, and Mattson to DH.  In addition to that, Branfy Arias played his season debut at shortstop, moving Cody Mombourquette to centerfield.

Marc-Andre Major made his second start for Toronto, and once again had a rough first inning before settling down.  He left after 5 innings with a lead, but London reclaimed it off reliever Scott Kelly.  Mattson and Topolie drove in runs to retake the lead in the 6th, and it was left to Franco Pace to come in to grab his first win, and Justin Cicatello (above) to grab his first save.

A Latino music festival going on beside the sports fields lent the day a festive atmosphere.  The spectators sprawled across the Christie hillside certainly enjoyed the day. 

This is the Leafs team we saw earlier in the year - players picking each other up, making timely hits, getting key outs, keeping a lively bench, and scoring plenty of runs.  The Leafs signaled to the rest of the league that they will be a force to be reckoned with moving into the second half of the season.


Recap:

It was the first hot game of the year.  Toronto hit 30 degrees and the city issued a heat advisory.  Hot hot heat!  At Christie Pits, a welcome breeze kept everyone from overheating in the sun.

Marc-Andre Major of the Maple Leafs had a shaky start to the game.  He hit the first batter he faced, London centerfielder Ryan Lapensee.  Lapensee stole second, but was tagged out on a rundown at third on a ground ball by second baseman Paul Young, who dashed to second during the rundown.  Young went to third on a wild pitch.  Leftfielder Paul LaMantia walked, then stole second.  During the steal attempt, Leafs catcher Will Richards made a throwing error that allowed Young to come home for the first run of the game.  LaMantia moved to third on a passed ball, and was driven in on a sac fly by first baseman Cleveland Brownlee.  2-0 Majors after the 1st inning.

The lower-order combo of DH Sean Mattson and third baseman Damon Topolie would be prominent throughout the game, starting in the bottom of the 2nd.  Mattson was hit by a pitch from Majors starter Jordan Townshend and went to second on a wild pitch.  Topolie then drove him home with a single to cut the London lead in half.

In the bottom of the 4th, Mattson struck again in a big way.  He hit a 2-run home run over the centerfield fence to give the Leafs a 3-2 lead after 4 innings.

Shortstop Branfy Arias, making his season debut for the Leafs, led off the bottom of the 5th with a single.  He moved to second on a single by leftfielder Raul Borjas.  He moved to third on a fielder's choice grounder by second baseman Dan Marra.  With first baseman Sean Reilly at the plate, Arias raced home on a wild pitch to make it 4-2 Leafs after 5 innings.

The Majors retook the lead in the top of the 6th.  Scott Kelly came in to relieve Major, and gave up two home runs over the left field fence: a solo blast by Brownlee, and a 2-run shot by DH Parris Austin.  London was back in the lead, 5-4.

The Mattson and Topolie show returned in the bottom of the 6th.  Richards led off the inning with a grounder to second baseman Young, but was safe at first on a throwing error.  Centerfielder Cody Mombourquette followed with a single that moved Richards to third.  Richards was plated and Mombourquette moved to third on an RBI single by Mattson.  Topolie followed that with a sac fly to right field that allowed Mombourquette to score, and it was 6-5 Leafs after 6 innings.

Reilly hit an RBI single in the 7th, and Borjas hit one in the 8th, to extend the Leafs lead to 8-5 heading into the 9th.  By then, London manager Roop Chanderdat had got himself tossed from the game with two outs in the bottom of the 8th, for blowing up at the home plate umpire.

Justin Cicatello relieved Franco Pace, and threw a shutout inning to secure his first save and Pace's first win.  The final score was 8-5 for the home side.

The Maple Leafs are now 8-11 and in 5th place, 9.5 games behind the Brantford Red Sox.  Their next game is back at the Pits against the Hamilton Cardinals on June 26.

Game 21: Postponed - Maple Leafs @ Guelph, June 22

Today's game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Guelph Royals at Hastings Stadium was rained out.

There had been scattered rain off and on throughout the day.  As soon as I arrived at the ballpark, the skies unleashed ten minutes of steady downpour.  Even though tarps covered the pitchers' mound and home plate circle, large puddles formed on the basepaths and the field was in no condition to play.

Here's a mini restaurant review instead.

As players and fans dispersed from the parking lot, I decided to hit one of the fantastic local pubs.  When in Guelph...

My first impulse was to check out Baker Street Station.  But their menu looks really hoity-toity.  Even their basic burger seems above the norm.  I wasn't sure how well I'd be received in ballcap and sneakers.  Would they mistake me for a delivery boy and hastily usher me out the back door?

Not wanting to chance any social humiliation, I went instead to the Woolwich Arrow pub.  The staff were welcoming, the vibe was relaxed, no one stared.  And they had Wellington County Ale!  I ordered the Smokey Burger, which comes with smoked bacon, smoked cheddar and BBQ sauce.  The beef patty was an inch thick, and you get a decent amount of bacon, not just one thin strip draped over the meat.  Dalashous.  Classy setting, friendly servers, great place.  Guelph never disappoints.

The Maple Leafs' next game is at Christie Pits against the London Majors on June 23.

Game 20: Boom, Boom and Bust - Maple Leafs @ Kitchener, June 20

I was back in Sausageland last night, rejoining the Toronto Maple Leafs' on the road after being away for a few days.  During that time, the Leafs split a home-and-home series with the Burlington Bandits, and they continued to wallow in the middle of the IBL standings.

There was an unexpected sight at Kitchener's Jack Couch Park - Sean Reilly and his pythons in a Maple Leafs uniform.  Reilly had been traded to Toronto by the Guelph Royals in exchange for four - four! - players: pitchers Clay Caulfield and Zack Pearson, catcher Duaine Bowles, and a player to be named later.

The Leafs continue to amass an arsenal of power hitting monsters in hopes of running up the score on other teams, but this night it was the pitching that went bust.  The Panthers stopped a three-game slide with a 12-6 win that saw them hit 4 home runs.

The pitching carousel continued for Toronto, as southpaw Franco Pace got his first start of the season.  He held his own for three innings, while teammates Reilly and Rob Gillis (above) each hit home runs to give their side an early lead.  But it was the Kitchenerians who rallied against reliever Rick Brooks and ran up the score.

Of course, no visit to K-W is complete without taking one wrong turn.  As I was leaving after the 8th inning, I blew past the ramp to get back on the highway that leads to the highway that leads to the 401.  Luckily I spotted the error, backtracked right away, and avoided ending up on some service road to hell.


Recap:

Maple Leafs shortstop Dan Marra singled off Kitchener Panthers starter Matt McGovern to lead off the game.  Marra then got into McGovern's head, as they played cat and mouse with three pickoff attempts thrown to first base.  Second baseman Rob Gillis observed silently, then BOOM!  Gillis blasted a 2-run home run over the right field fence and the Leafs had a 2-0 lead after 1 inning.

Kitchener retaliated with a pair of solo home runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning, from leftfielder Jeff Pietraszko and rightfielder Brian Burton.  Catcher Rick Murray and second baseman Mike Andrulis followed with singles, and Leafs starter Franco Pace ended up walking the bases full.  Third baseman Mat Taube came up, and hit a grounder to Marra, who bobbled the ball and threw late to first base, allowing Murray to score and give the Panthers a 3-2 lead after the 2nd.

Toronto got back on top in the 3rd.  Marra walked, as did rightfielder Jon Waltenbury.  Then BOOM!  A 3-run homer by newly-acquired DH Sean Reilly put the Leafs back in front, 5-3.

In the bottom of the 3rd, the Panthers got one back on Brian Burton's second solo homer of the game.  It was 5-4 Leafs after the 3rd.

Rick Brooks came on to pitch for Toronto in the 4th inning.  BUST!  He gave up three hits including a 3-run home run by Panthers first baseman Mitch Delaney, which made the score 7-5 Kitchener.

The Panthers piled it on in the 5th, mauling Brooks for 5 more runs.  Brooks gave up a double, single and walk to start the inning, then shortstop Iggy Villalobos singled to drive in the first two runs of the frame.  Centerfielder Keith Kandel singled to drive in another run, and then Delaney doubled to drive in two more.  When the dust settled, Brooks had been tagged for 8 runs in two innings and Kitchener led 12-5 after 5.

Matt Vickers relieved McGovern to start the 6th inning.  He gave up singles to leftfielder Justin Gianfrancesco and third baseman Sean Mattson.  Both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch, then Gianfrancesco scored on a ground out by Marra that made it 12-6 after 6.

By then, the sun had set and a chill was setting in.  Some of the Panthers bench players started snacking on sausages hot off the grill.  I snuck around to the beer stand and grabbed a quick one - something to fuel me through the remaining three innings.  Not much happened.  The Leafs got just one hit the rest of the way and never threatened to overtake the home side. 

Since the Leafs' last trip to Kitchener, the Panthers had kicked one Japanese pitcher to the kerb in favour of another - Daisuke Yasui was released in order to bring in Kaisuke Saito.  Saito pitched a perfect 9th to preserve the 12-6 win for Kitchener.  By then, I was already burning up the 401, past the giant woman on the Schneider's billboard who smiled mockingly as I rolled back to Toronto, wondering what it's going to take for this team to finally explode into contention.

The Leafs are now 7-11 and in 5th place, 9 games behind the Brantford Red Sox.  Their next game is at Guelph on June 22, against the Guelph Royals.

Game 19: Another Comeback Stalled - Burlington Bandits @ Toronto, June 16

Still on holiday.  Relaxing in the country.

The Toronto Maple Leafs played their third game in three days yesterday, losing to the Burlington Bandits at Christie Pits.

Just like their game in Hamilton on Friday night, it looks like a late comeback attempt was stalled.

A brief recap is available on the IBL's website.

The Leafs are now 7-10, and 8.5 games behind the league leading Brantford Red Sox.  Their next game, according to the Guelph Royals website, is in Guelph on June 18.

UPDATE: No such game took place on June 18.  Erroneous posting.