The Toronto Maple Leafs have been to Sausageland three times this season and they have come away empty each time, with a 7-5 defeat completing the troika last night.
In both previous games, the Kitchener Panthers came from behind to send the Leafs back up the 401 as losers. This time, the black cats jumped ahead early and hung on long enough to clinch the home sweep.
A boisterous home crowd loved every minute of it. "That's Panthurr Basebaaall!" they brayed and laughed, and deservedly so.
With the Leafs trailing late in the game, I snuck down to the beer tent for one, and grabbed a grilled sausage as well. It was a damn fine piece of meaty goodness. Sausageland, your reputation is deserved. That sausage may have been the high point of the evening.
The Leafs have been locked in a bizarre streak that started on June 20th, the last time they were in Kitchener. Starting from that game, their won-lost record has gone like this: L-W-L-W-L-W-L-W-L-W-L. It's a streak of streaklessness.
The bad news is, their next game is against the Brantford Red Sox, who have been tearing through the league like a band of ruthless Huns. The Sox have lost just four games all season.
Can the Leafs return to their winning ways and continue their streak unique? It's going to take some kind of effort. Personally I can't wait for that game. Depending on the outcome it will either be an epic upset, or a harrowing defeat. For now, here's the recap from last night.
Recap:
The Toronto Maple Leafs' pitching carousel continued as Troy Marks made his first start of the season - the club's eighth different starter this summer. Marks received a rude welcome to Kitchener, getting banged up for four hits and four runs right away and the Panthers were off to a great start.
Kitchener leftfielder Tanner Nivins led off the bottom of the 3rd with a solo home run that made it 5-0.
The Leafs replied with a solo homer of their own in the top of the 4th, off the bat of third baseman Sean Mattson.
The game moved at a brisk pace. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the Leafs continued pecking away. Second baseman Dan Marra walked and stole second to start the 5th inning. He was driven home on a single by centerfielder Glenn Jackson and it was 5-2 Panthers.
The home team replied right away. Third baseman Mike Andrulis singled, stole second, and came home on a single by first baseman Mitch Delaney. 6-2 Panthers after the 5th inning.
Marks and his counterpart Adam Echlin both completed six innings, and turned it over to their bullpens to start the 7th. Matt McGovern started well, striking out the first two batters he faced. Then he gave up a single to leftfielder Raul Borjas, followed by a home run by first baseman Jon Waltenbury. 6-4 Panthers midway through the 7th.
Conor Lillis-White relieved Marks, but he did not fare well. He gave up a walk and two singles that scored another Panthers run. Justin Cicatello came on in relief and brought the inning to a close, but it was now 7-4 Panthers after the 7th.
A scoreless 8th inning brought the Leafs to their final three outs. Panthers DH Bryon Bell, who had gone 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored, took to the mound to begin the 9th inning. It was Bell's ninth pitching appearance of the season and second save attempt. Borjas led off with a single to left field. He tried to stretch it to a double, but was gunned down at second for the first out. Waltenbury then drew a controversial walk that prompted the Panthers bench to erupt at the home plate umpire for the second night in a row. Manager Brian Bishop offered up some choice words to the ump, who responded by tossing him. The Panthers tried to settle down, but Waltenbury moved up the basepaths - first on a passed ball, then by stealing third. Waltenbury scored on a fielder's choice by Mattson, but Bell struck out shortstop Branfy Arias to end the game and the final was 7-5 Kitchener.
The Maple Leafs are now 12-16 and holding steady in fifth place. They are 12.5 games behind the Brantford Red Sox, whom they will face next at Christie Pits on July 14.
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