Panthers win 5-4
Panthers lead series 1-0
The Toronto Maple Leafs came six outs away from a Game 1 upset in their semifinal series against the Kitchener Panthers on Friday night.
They had fought back from a 3-0 deficit to take a 4-3 lead into the eighth inning at Jack Couch Park. The boys in blue were on the verge of striking a huge first blow.
Then the rains came and the game was suspended.
After a 38-hour delay (lotta rain!), the game was resumed at Christie Pits on Sunday afternoon.
The Leafs opened the eighth inning as the visiting team. Miguel Lahera was on the mound for Kitchener. He gave up a double to centerfielder Connor Lewis, but the Leafs were unable to cash him in and the score remained 4-3.
Game 1 starter Andrew Simonetti was replaced by Zach Sloan for the bottom of the eighth. Sloan retired the first two batters before hitting Mike Glinka with a pitch. Andy Leader was up next and he hit a double. With two men in scoring position, manager Damon Topolie made the call for Dustin Richardson. Toronto's closer faced Mike Andrulis, who swung and missed the first pitch, then took ball one. He then smacked Richardson's next pitch right back and past him into shallow center (above). Two runs scored, and the Panthers took a 5-4 lead.
Lahera retired the side in the ninth to complete the comeback stunner for Kitchener. Sloan took the loss as the Panthers took a 1-0 series lead.
Toronto 4-11-2
Kitchener 5-8-1
W - Lahera (1-0, 0.00)
L - Sloan (1-2, 3.37)
BOXSCORE
NOTE: Eric Penkala and Cory Graham are providing live webcasts of each Leafs playoff game and archiving them on YouTube. The channel is Toronto Maple Leafs IBL Webcast.
Here's their complete coverage of the Game 1 conclusion.
The second game of the series began approximately 20 minutes later. Please see Part Deux.
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