For the second time in four days, Jon Waltenbury hit a walk-off winner at Christie Pits, electrifying the Christie crazies and lighting up the Toronto Maple Leafs' season at just the right time.
On Sunday, the Leafs' charismatic slugger hit a fiery home run to complete an epic 8-run 9th inning comeback over the Brantford Red Sox.
Last night, he hit a game-winning single to give the Leafs a 10-9 win over the Kitchener Panthers.
Both wins have been huge, as the regular season winds down and Toronto finds itself locked in a battle with Brantford and Kitchener for playoff positioning. A loss would have dropped the Leafs down to 6th place and an undesirable spot in the one-game playoff of doom. Instead, that spot belongs to Kitchener for the time being.
This meeting with Kitchener fit the "game of two halves" cliché perfectly. The Panthers scored seven runs in the first four innings, and appeared to put the game away early. The Leafs rallied to score eight runs in the last four innings and completed another remarkable return from the dead.
While Waltenbury delivered the winning blow in both big comebacks, the victories were obviously not his alone. This time around, Jalen Harris went 3 for 5 with 3 RBIs, Dan Marra drove in a pair, with Raul Borjas, Damon Topolie and Waltenbury also driving in one run apiece.
Toronto starter Adam Garner fell victim to the Panthers' early assault, lasting only 2 innings. Christian Botter relieved him for 1.2 innings, then Justin Cicatello took over, pitching the final 5.1 innings for the win.
Game Recap:
The Toronto Maple Leafs welcomed the Kitchener Panthers to Christie Pits, and the visitors made themselves right at home in the 1st inning. They pounced on starter Adam Garner, who gave up a leadoff home run to Tanner Nivins. That was followed by a single by Scott David, and three doubles in a row, hit by Sean Reilly, David Whiteside (scoring David) and Jeff Pietraszko (scoring Reilly). Whiteside scored on a groundout by Rick Murray and it was 4-0 Panthers before the Leafs had even come to bat.
The Leafs went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 1st.
Darnell Duckett led off the top of the 2nd with a single. He advanced to third on a single by David, then scored on a single by Reilly. 5-0 Panthers after the 2nd inning.
Rick Murray ended Garner's evening by belting a leadoff dinger to start the 3rd. Christian Botter came in and got through the inning without any further damage, but it was 6-0 Kitchener.
In the bottom of the 3rd, the Leafs began reeling the Panthers in. Catcher Tony Alvarez was hit by a pitch from starter Brian Oliver. He advanced to second on a wild pitch, and to third on a single by DH Tyler Mitchell. A single by shortstop Dan Marra brought them both home and it was 6-2 Panthers after the 3rd.
Kitchener scored another in the 4th. Botter walked Reilly and Whiteside to start the inning. Reilly would eventually score on a sac fly by Murray that made it 7-2 for the visitors. Justin Cicatello came in to strikeout Bryon Bell for the final out of the inning.
A scoreless 5th inning followed.
In the bottom of the 6th, leftfielder Raul Borjas and first baseman Damon Topolie each singled. A single by rightfielder Jalen Harris scored Borjas to make it 7-3 Kitchener after the 6th.
The Panthers got the run right back, and Bell earned a measure of revenge by leading off the 7th with a home run off of Cicatello that made it 8-3.
The Leafs' comeback began gaining momentum in the bottom of the 7th, when they sent nine men to the plate. Alvarez flied out, then centerfielder Glenn Jackson walked and stole second. DH Jon Waltenbury reached first base on an error and Jackson advanced to third. Marra then walked to load the bases. Mike Gatchene came on in relief of Oliver, and promptly walked in a run by handing Borjas a base on balls. Russell Luxton was the next pitcher brought in. He gave up a single to Topolie that scored Waltenbury. Third baseman Sean Mattson hit a liner to second for the second out of the inning. Harris then rapped a double into the outfield to score Marra and Borjas. Second baseman Grant Tamane struck out to end the inning, but the comeback was on, and the Kitchener lead was 8-7.
The Panthers' home run derby continued in the 8th, when Whiteside hit another solo shot that made it 9-7.
In the bottom of the 8th, Glenn Jackson got things going again. He reached safely when what should have been a groundout was dropped by the first baseman for an error. He stole second base again, then moved to third on a single by Borjas. A wild pitch by Luxton allowed Jackson to race home and it was 9-8 Panthers going into the 9th.
Whiteside took to the pitcher's mound to try and nail down a save for Kitchener, but he started by giving up singles to Mattson and Harris. A wild pitch allowed Mattson to score from third to tie the game. Tamane walked next, and Alvarez hit a sac bunt to advance both baserunners. Jackson was walked intentionally to load the bases, and the stage was set for Waltenbury. He took the first pitch from Whiteside for a ball, then hit a clean single over the infield to win the game as Harris crossed home plate. 10-9 walkoff win for the Leafs.
Kitchener 9-15-3
Toronto 10-12-0
W - Cicatello (1-0)
L - Whiteside (0-3)
BOXSCORE
The Maple Leafs are now 15-15 and tied for 4th place with the Brantford Red Sox, 9.5 games behind the Barrie Baycats. Their next game is on the road against the London Majors on Friday, July 18.
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