Nipped in the Ninth

Game 22: Kitchener Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs, June 28, 2017

Panthers win 3-2

Apart from fresh blooms of clover all over the field, the place looked the same.

After a week-long layoff, the Toronto Maple Leafs returned to action and welcomed their fans back to Christie Pits.

They also welcomed the Kitchener Panthers, who arrived late and caused a 10-minute delay to first pitch.

Once the game began, both sides played a tight and fast-moving game. After just an hour, it was already the top of the fifth.

Lanky lefty Zach Sloan breezed through the first five innings on the mound. He held the Panthers scoreless, giving up five hits while striking out two.

The Leafs got a run on the board in the bottom of the frame. Kitchener starter Jasvir Rakkar walked third baseman Johnathan Solazzo to start the inning. Solazzo moved to second on a single by DH Tyler Hardie, then moved to third on a fielder's choice by shortstop Ryan White. A single by first baseman Julian Johnson brought Solazzo in with the first run of the game.

IBL legend Sean Reilly tied the game with one swing of the bat in the top of the sixth, hitting a solo homer off reliever Adam Odd.  1-1 midway through six.

Left fielder Grant Tamane led off the bottom of the sixth by ripping his fifth double of the year. A single by centerfielder Connor Lewis moved him to third, and an RBI single by Solazzo brought him home. 2-1 Leafs after six.

The black cats tied the game again in the top of the seventh. A single by Yorbis Borroto and a double by Yulexis La Rosa made the game 2-2 through seven.

Adam Mercer came in to pitch a scoreless eighth and the Leafs were held scoreless by Mike Schnurr in the bottom of the frame to send the game to the decisive ninth.

Reilly led off with a single off Mercer. Connor Mitchell came in to pinch run. A double by first baseman Justin Interisano moved Mitchell to third. Rightfielder Zarley Cina then singled in what proved to be the winning run and Mitchell crossed home plate. 3-2 Panthers and the Leafs were down to their final three outs.

Cuban Noelvis Entenza took the mound for the Panthers in the bottom of the ninth. He gave up a single to pinch hitter Jon Waltenbury, but that would be all as he closed out the 3-2 final and a win for Schnurr.  Mercer took the loss for the Leafs.


Kitchener 3-12-0
Toronto 2-8-3

W - Schnurr (2-1, 2.77)
L - Mercer (0-2, 6.30)
S - Entenza (2)


BOXSCORE


The Leafs record now stands at 10-10* and they sit in 4th place in the IBL standings. These two clubs will be back at it again on Thursday night, June 29 at Jack Couch Park in Kitchener.


* A couple of forfeits by the defunct Guelph Royals added two wins to the Leafs record.