Leafs Edged Late by Panthers

Game 21: Kitchener Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs - June 29, 2016

Panthers win 7-5

On a night when Sean Reilly was poised to break the IBL's all-time home run record, his bat fell mostly silent.  Reilly went 1 for 4 with a single as the Toronto Maple Leafs hosted his Kitchener Panthers at Christie Pits last night.

The silent slugger had decimated the single-season IBL home run record as a member of the Maple Leafs in 2013, in an unforgettable three-homer game at the Pits.  As for the all-time record, it will likely be broken at another ballpark.

Instead, Reilly's teammates held a home run derby on his behalf.  They knocked four homers out of the park last night, including a game winning grand slam by Tanner Nivins.  The salami by Nivins allowed Kitchener to overtake the Leafs in the top of the 9th and hang on for a 7-5 victory.

It was a disappointing result after a feisty, closely-fought battle between two hard-slugging teams.  Kitchener and Toronto entered the night as the IBL's top two home run hitting clubs.  They would combine for five on the night, and the game was decided on the late blast by Nivins.

Brett van Pelt pitched six innings for the Leafs before handing a 3-3 tie over to Dillon Mulholland.  An RBI double by Sean Mattson in the bottom of the 8th gave the Leafs a 4-3 lead, but the Panthers rallied for 4 runs in the 9th and grabbed the win.  Marek Deska was hung with the loss after giving up the fateful pitch to Nivins.

Both clubs saw players ejected from the game.  Kitchener second baseman Mike Andrulis was tossed for questioning the home plate ump's career path, and Leafs DH Damon Topolie got the heave for being overly-critical of an infield ump's choice of cologne.  Touchy there, Blue.


Game Recap:


As a blazing sun set over Christie Pits, the Toronto Maple Leafs hosted the Kitchener Panthers in a Wednesday night matchup.  Brett van Pelt took to the mound for the home side, facing off against Ian Rendon.

The first three innings of the game were scoreless.

Panthers first baseman David Whiteside broke the ice for Kitchener with a solo home run in the top of the 4th.

Leafs first baseman Johnathan Solazzo doubled to lead off the bottom of the inning.  He advanced to third on a single by shortstop Ryan White, and scored on a sac fly by centerfielder Connor Lewis.  1-1 after four innings of play.

The Leafs took the lead in the bottom of the 5th.  Rightfielder Jon Waltenbury led off with a single off Rendon.  Catcher Will Richards doubled him home for a 2-1 Toronto lead.

Kitchener demonstrated why they lead the IBL in home runs, hitting a pair of solo shots off van Pelt in the top of the 6th.  Rightfielder Terrell Alliman and second baseman Mike Gordner went back-to-back and gave the Panthers a 3-2 lead midway through the 6th.

The home run derby continued in the bottom of the 6th when Lewis bashed one out for Toronto to tie the game at 3 apiece.

Both clubs turned it over to their bullpens for the final three innings of the game.  Yuji Suzuki got one out in the 6th and pitched a scoreless 7th.  Dillon Mulholland relieved van Pelt and retired the side, keeping the score 3-3 through seven.

Mulholland pitched another scoreless frame in the top of the 8th.

Mike Schnurr came in to pitch the 8th for Kitchener.  After a couple of strikeouts to start the inning, Waltenbury battled him for a walk, then rampaged all the way home on a double by third baseman Sean Mattson.  4-3 Leafs headed into the 9th.

Mulholland gave up a single to catcher Frank Camilo Morejon to start the 9th.  Marek Deska then relieved him.  Deska walked pinch hitter Justin Interisano, and Kitchener loaded the bases when leftfielder Jonathan Brouse reached first on a sac bunt attempt that was fielded for an error by Solazzo at first.  That set the stage for centerfielder Tanner Nivins, who hit a grand slam that made it 7-4 Kitchener midway through the 9th.

The Leafs battled back in the bottom of the 9th.  Second baseman Dan Marra led off with a single off of new pitcher Iannick Remillard.  Solazzo hit into a fielder's choice, erasing Marra at second.  Pinch hitter Justin Marra flew out for out number two.  White then singled to keep the game alive, and Lewis drew a walk to load the bases.  A single by leftfielder Grant Tamane scored Solazzo.  But that would be all for the Leafs as Waltenbury flew out for the final out and Kitchener sealed a 7-5 FINAL over Toronto.


Kitchener 7-10-1
Toronto 5-15-1

W - Schnurr (1-0, 4.28)
L - Deska (0-1, 2.70)
S - Remillard (2)


BOXSCORE


The loss drops the Maple Leafs back to .500 with a 10-10 record.  They sit in 5th place in the IBL standings.  Their next game will be on the road in London on Canada Day, when they will play the Majors at Labatt Memorial Park.