Panthers win 8-2
The badass Kitchener Panthers stalked into town and feasted on the local nine this afternoon at Christie Pits. The black cats pounced on Toronto Maple Leafs pitchers for 13 hits and 9 runs en route to a 9-4 win on Mothers' Day.
A light rain fell during BP, but by game time the clouds began clearing and steamy temperatures pressed down on the old quarry.
Dan Zlotnick was the starting pitcher for the Maple Leafs and he suffered the worst mauling of the day, giving up nine hits and a walk over just 2.1 innings. He surrendered eight runs, six of them earned.
It seems no visit to the Pits is complete for Panthers Sean Reilly (above) and Bryon Bell until they each slug a homer, and each did so today. Reilly's came in the second inning off of Zlotnick. The quiet strongman lifted a pitch into centerfield and he followed it with an f-bomb, thinking he'd hit a harmless flyball. It turned out to be a 356-foot flyball that cleared the fence. Bell's solo homer came in the 9th inning, as did a two-run home run by Toronto's silent slugger Sean Mattson.
At the urging of manager Perry Mader, the Leafs focused on chipping away at their early deficit. They were more disciplined at the plate and managed to get four runs across, but it wasn't enough as they got handed their first loss of the young season.
On the plus side for the Leafs, four relievers combined over the final 6.2 innings to hold the Panthers to just four hits and one run. Kitchener's aggressive approach at the plate got them the early lead and eventually the win, but they also struck out 14 times.
Also on the plus side, I think I avoided getting a brutal sunburn, but I've been avoiding mirrors since the game ended. We'll see.
Game Recap:
The Kitchener Panthers wasted no time in getting to Toronto Maple Leafs starter Dan Zlotnick in the 1st inning. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases right away. Zlotnick struck out the next batter, but then gave up a pair of singles that brought four runs around to score.
The Leafs began chipping away in the bottom of the inning. Centerfielder Tyler Mitchell led off with a double, then moved to third on a wild pitch by Kitchener starter Mitch Clarke. Mitchell scored on a groundout by shortstop Connor Lewis and it was 4-1 Kitchener after the 1st inning.
In the 2nd inning, the Panthers extended their lead to 6-1 on a 2-run home run to centerfield by DH Sean Reilly.
The Panthers added two more runs in the 3rd inning, and knocked Zlotnick out of the game. Two singles to start the inning were followed by a third one by leftfielder Darnell Duckett that drove in a run. Rightfielder Jonathan Brouse singled off reliever Oscar Gonzalez to cash in one more run to make it 8-1.
The Leafs kept at it and got one back in the bottom of the 3rd. Mitchell singled and moved to second on a putout by Lewis. First baseman Jon Waltenbury then drove him home with a double off Clarke. 8-2 after 3 innings.
The following five innings went scoreless, as both teams used a combination of relievers to get to the final inning.
In the top of the 9th, Justin Cicatello came on to pitch for the Leafs, and served up a solo home run to pinch hitter Bryon Bell. That made the score 9-2.
In the bottom of the 9th, Adam Echlin came on to pitch for the Panthers, and served up a two-run home run to second baseman Sean Mattson. But that was all she wrote as the Panthers locked down the 9-4 FINAL.
Kitchener 9-13-0
Toronto 4-9-1
W - McGovern (1-0)
L - Zlotnick (0-1)
BOXSCORE
The Leafs are now 1-1 and they will continue their homestand when they host the London Majors at Christie Pits next Sunday, May 17.
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