Panthers win 11-10 (10 innings)
As the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Kitchener Panthers slugged it out at Jack Couch Park last night, I decided that the working title for this entry would be: "Solazzo!"
That's it, just: "Solazzo!"
The Leafs' infielder (above) led the club's run-scoring breakout with three RBIs off three hits, including two home runs.
"Solazzo!"
More than mere home runs, the two pitches he smashed were hit with such combustible force that you could see the smoke trails following them out of the park. One of the screaming missiles banged off the top of a trailer and into a wooded area. Plumes of smoke appeared back there not long after. The game was briefly halted as the Kitchener Fire Department came in to douse the small fire that had been started by the flaming baseball.
"Solazzo!"
The strongman squared off against Kitchener's basher Sean Reilly. Like two heavyweights, they traded haymakers. Each man blasted two home runs and they combined for seven RBIs.
Both clubs joined in, thrashing each other's pitching and ringing up a total of 20 runs - 10 to each side at the end of nine innings.
The stars aligned. Excitement mounted as it looked like Solazzo and Reilly would each get one more turn at the plate - one final chance to end this bout with the swing of a bat. It would be the perfect ending to this slugfest. The raucous Kitchener crowd was eager for drama.
But neither man would stamp his mark on the final outcome.
In the top of the 10th, with runners on first and second, the Panthers' Phil Owen pitched his way out of a jam and Solazzo was left standing on deck.
In the bottom of the 10th, the bat was taken out of Reilly's hands as he was intentionally walked.
Tanner Nivins had doubled off Adam Garner to start the deciding inning. A sac bunt moved him to third. After Reilly was walked, Christian Botnick relieved Garner. His appearance lasted all of one pitch. With David Whiteside at the plate, Botnick hurled a wild pitch that got past Brendan Keys. Nivins raced home from third and the heavyweight tilt ended with the home side winning 11-10 on a surprise TKO.
Game Recap:
Balls were jacked, runs were scored. The Panthers got one more than the Leafs. What else needs to be said after a tough luck night?
Toronto 10-9-0
Kitchener 11-18-6
W - Owen (2-0, 0.87)
L - Garner (0-1, 5.03)
BOXSCORE
The Maple Leafs' losing streak is at seven games. Their record is 13-19 and they are in sixth place, 13 games behind the Barrie Baycats. Their road trip continues with a stop in Guelph on Saturday, July 25 to face the Royals.
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