Under the Hammer

Game 27: Toronto Maple Leafs at Hamilton Cardinals, July 10, 2018

Cardinals win 6-0

The scoreboard says it all.

Last night, at a breezy Bernie Arbour Stadium, the Toronto Maple Leafs played their worst game of the season. They committed five errors, recorded just one hit, and got shutout 6-0 by the Hamilton Cardinals. 

It was a huge swing of the pendulum from last weekend, when the Leafs demolished this same club in back-to-back blowouts. 

The theme of the evening was established in the first inning. The Leafs went down in order to start the game and then Hamilton went to work against starter Marek Deska. Two singles, two stolen bases and two errors gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead.

The Cards hit three doubles in the bottom of the second and extended their lead to 4-0.

As the sun set and the game sped along, the only moments that interrupted the Cards defensive gem were a single by shortstop Grant Tamane in the third, and a handful of walks.

In the bottom of the eighth, Justin Cicatello was on the mound for the Mapes. Three hits and another error allowed Hamilton to put two more runs on the board for a 6-0 lead.

And that was how it ended. Zackary Gonzalez, Luke Melymick and Dan Connerty combined on the shutout and handed the Leafs their third "L" in a row.

Yuck. 


Toronto 0-1-5
Hamilton 6-12-1

W - Gonzalez (2-4, 4.53)
L - Deska (1-3, 5.96)


BOXSCORE


At 13-11, the Leafs slip to 3 1/2 games behind the Kitchener Panthers in the IBL standings, while holding on to 4th place. They look to bounce right back tonight at Christie Pits, when they welcome the league leaders for a Wednesday nighter.