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Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - June 29 to July 5, 2026

Week 8 was another week of losses that ended with a big win on Sunday 

After a two-home run Sunday, Yasiel Puig leads the Maple Leafs in batting average, home runs, RBIs and walks.  He was one of three Leafs named to the 2026 CBL All-Star Game.

As we approach the midway point of this inaugural Canadian Baseball League season, a divide is beginning to appear.  Some cleavage is showing.

It's the standings.

(image: CBL.ca)

The top five clubs are closely bunched, just two games separating one through five.

The bottom four are also in tight, two-and-a-half games separating six through nine.

A very clear gap is growing between postseason qualifiers and those on the outside.  The distance between fifth place Guelph and sixth place Kitchener looks longer than Highway 7.  Look at that cleavage!

Even if one club suddenly collapsed and another went on a hot streak, it would take a couple of weeks for one of the postseason chasers to cross that divide.

The Toronto Maple Leafs, forever the darlings of our hearts, made a statement win on Sunday.  They beat the first place London Majors with a show of force and determination.  They also lost three games last week.

If the boys in blue can put more wins together, they could write the biggest story of this season's second half.

**ALL-STAR WEEKEND**

This weekend, the league will break for All-Star festivities in Chatham.

Three Leafs were named to represent Toronto as part of Team North: outfielders J.J. Dutton, Yasiel Puig, and pitcher Nick Veselinovic.  Congrats to all three!

For now, here is the recap of Week 8 in Maple Leafs baseball.

Wednesday, July 1, 2026 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Welland Jackfish 

J.J. Dutton's titanic triple scored three runs for the Maple Leafs.  (image: Welland Jackfish YouTube)

The Toronto Maple Leafs dropped a Canada Day battle at Welland Stadium, losing 9-7 to the Jackfish.

Twice in the game, the Jackfish went up by four runs and the Leafs reeled them back.

It was Ben Abram and Wilgenis Alvarado squaring off on the mound.  For the second game in a row, it was a short outing for the Toronto starter.  He was roughed up for four runs off four hits and a walk while striking out two.  His day was done after two innings and the Jackfish led 4-0.

Leaf bats returned the favour.  In the top of the third inning, Abram loaded the bases.  Centerfielder J.J. Dutton cleared them with a deep shot to right field.  Dutton ended up at third base.  He came home on a sac fly by DH Marcus Knecht and the game was tied 4-4.

In the bottom of the third, Nick Veselinovic entered the game.  He gave up a solo home run to James Smibert and Welland went back ahead 5-4.

In the top of the fourth, the Leafs threatened to score again by putting two men aboard, but everybody was erased when the home side turned a triple play.

The Jackfish extended their lead with two more runs in the fourth and another in the fifth to make it 8-4.

Canada's Team did not give up.  In the top of the sixth, with Abram still on the mound, Knecht and second baseman Yordan Manduley hit singles.  Third baseman Spenser Ross followed with his own RBI hit, and catcher Matt Brandt doubled to drive in two more.  That brought the Leafs back to within a run, 8-7.

The Jackfish, who hate Canada, refused to lose.  They tacked on another run the bottom of the sixth and their bullpen pitched three shutout innings to nail down a 9-7 FINAL.  Abram earned his fifth win of the season and Veselinovic was hung with the loss.  Deivy Mendez recorded his fourth save.

Toronto 7 11 0

Welland 9 12 3

W - Abram (5-1, 3.18)

L - Veselinovic (1-2, 5.55)

S - Mendez (4)

BOXSCORE

Friday, July 3, 2026 - Barrie Baycats vs Toronto Maple Leafs  

Crix Taveras makes an acrobatic catch in the first inning.  Later in the game, he would rush to defend teammate Spenser Ross.

Here's a stomach-churning stat.  It's the first week of July and the Toronto Maple Leafs have lost seven games by 10 runs or more.

They are averaging one blowout a week and the latest came Friday night at Christie Pits.

The Barrie Baycats went to town on Leaf pitching early and often.

Starter Frankie Gulko gave up three runs on four singles to start the game.

In the second inning, Barrie increased their lead to 4-0 thanks to two singles and a stolen base play that resulted in a run.

Top of four, a double and single off Gulko made it a 5-0 lead for the Baycats.  Barf.

Hayden Jaco, making his first start as a pitcher in five years, held Toronto bats in some kind of mesmeric thrall.  Over five innings, he limited the Leafs' offence to two hits and two walks.  They managed just five hits all night.  Puke.  

Gulko and Jaco both went five innings and the bullpens took over.

In the top of the sixth, Barrie sent their entire order to the plate and blew the game wide open.  They tagged Ben Sitarenios for four hits including a home run by Wandy Ciprian.  Graham Sim came in to douse the inferno but gave up a three-run homer by Nolan Machibroda.  After six innings it was 11-0 Barrie.  Spew.

Top of seven, Noah Hull homered to make it 12-0.

Top of eight, things got heated.  With Kyle Poapst on the mound for the Leafs, Francisco Hernandez was stuck by a pitch.  Hernandez stole second and attempted to steal third.  He was tagged out but he came in hard and upended third baseman Spenser Ross.  Shortstop Crix Taveras charged over to confront Hernandez and the benches cleared.  Everyone grabbed a dance partner for a few turns before things settled down again.  Ross was alright and continued at third.  Hernandez was ejected from the game.

In the bottom of the eighth, Dionysius Chialtas made his return to the Toronto Maple Leafs, pinch hitting for catcher Matt Brandt.  Chialtas debuted with the club in the 2024 season, playing in 15 games as backup to Justin Marra.  Leading off, he smashed a Brad Grieveson pitch to deep left field.  It bounced on the warning track and he cruised safely into second base.  First baseman Kirk Gibson advanced Chialtas with a ground out, and Ross drove him in with another grounder.  The Leafs were finally on the board, 12-1.

Each team added a run in the ninth.  Right fielder Marcus Knecht finished off the scoring with a solo home run and the game ended with a 13-2 FINAL score.  Jaco with the win, Gulko with the loss, Pepto for those who stayed to the end.

Barrie 13 15 1

Toronto 2 5 2

W - Jaco (1-0, 0.00)

L - Gulko (0-2, 6.75)

BOXSCORE

Saturday, July 4, 2026 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Guelph Royals 

Acting Manager Brian Sewell kept his cool while all around him was umpiring madness.

The scene at Hastings Stadium was like one of those superhero movies where they throw in every character in the extended franchise.

In this case it was the Dominico Cinematic Universe.  The 2026 Toronto Maple Leafs met up with some notables from the past.  I caught up with Marek Deska, Ryan Dos Santos and Ryan Eakin, all of whom are looking good.

It was fitting that the game on the diamond would be practically decided by one man, Garrett Takamatsu.

The former Leaf hit two home runs and drove in three as the Guelph Royals topped the Leafs 7-4.

Wilgenis Alvarado pitched five innings and was victimized for six runs off eight hits.  He struck out one batter.

Graham Sim and Reinaldo De Paula combined to pitch three innings of relief.

At the plate, right fielder Yasiel Puig went 4-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs.  Left fielder Dennis Dei Baning and third baseman Spenser Ross also recorded an RBI each.

Mostly though, the game was marred by the umpiring crew.  Fair balls were called foul, a play that should have ended with an out was allowed to continue and a run that shouldn't have counted remained on the scoreboard.  By the Code of Hammurabi, what madness was this?  The Leafs and their followers looked on in disbelief.  Acting manager Brian Sewell kept his cool as some outraged Leaf players threatened to go Vesuvius on the nearest ump.

Ultimately, the Leafs were unable to overcome an early deficit.  The 7-4 FINAL score saw Edgar Garcia earn his third win of the season, Alvarado got his third loss and Gleyvin Pineda got a save.

Toronto 4 8 0

Guelph 7 11 0

W - Garcia (3-1, 7.18)

L - Alvarado (1-3, 7.50)

S - Pineda (1)

BOXSCORE

Sunday, July 5, 2026 - London Majors vs Toronto Maple Leafs  

Yordan Manduley was all over the scoresheet on Sunday: he got three hits including a home run, he scored three times and drove in three.  The only time he didn't hit a ball was when the ball hit him first.

This game was a nonstop highlight reel.

Nine home runs, 19 runs on the scoreboard.  A university student made his CBL debut.  A 40-year-old man stole a base.

The London Majors and Toronto Maple Leafs exchanged the lead five times.  The Leafs came from behind thrice and Crix Taveras hit a game-winning home run.

Everything came together for a crowd-pleasing 11-8 win at Christie Pits.

Facing the league-leading Londoners, starting pitcher Yadiel Martinez appeared extra pumped on the mound.  Demonstrative after each of his four strikeouts, the Cuban battled into the sixth inning and departed the game with a lead.

A home run to lead off the game gave the visitors an early lead.

The Leafs responded in the bottom of the first inning.  Third baseman Spenser Ross drew a walk off starter Cesilio Pimentel, and DH Yasiel Puig followed with a big swat over the centerfield fence to make it 2-1.

In the bottom of the third, Puig repeated his feat with a solo swat that cleared the fence in left.  Pimentel struggled in the aftermath and loaded the bases.  He ended up hitting second baseman Yordan Manduley with a pitch and another run crossed the plate.  The Leafs led 4-1 through three.

The Majors added a run in the fourth and three more in the fifth to go up 5-4.

Bottom five, left fielder Dennis Dei Baning led off and was hit by a pitch from reliever Miguel Cirino.  He advanced to second on a wild pitch, and to third on a single by Manduley.  The Leafs executed a perfect double steal and Dei Baning came home to tie the game.  It goes into the books as the second steal of the season by Manduley, the 40-year-old Cuban.  He came around to score on a single by catcher Matt Brandt and the Leafs went back ahead 6-5.

In the top of the sixth, Martinez recorded one out before being relieved by Alex Gerard, a junior call-up.  The University of Ottawa pitcher made his debut in the CBL by giving up a double and home run to the first two batters he faced.  He got out of the inning without any further damage, but London was back ahead 7-6.

In the top of the seventh, London added a run off reliever Kyle Poapst.  The Leafs were down 8-6 and the stage was set for the last and best Christie comeback of the afternoon.

Bottom seven, Cirino still on the mound.  Dei Baning led off with a single.  POW!  A two-run homer by Manduley tied the game.  POW!  A solo blast by shortstop Taveras gave the Leafs a 9-8 lead.  It was Taveras's first CBL homer.

Manduley and Taveras both scored again in the bottom of the eighth to make it an 11-8 ballgame and that would be the FINAL score.

Manduley went 3-for-4 on the day with three runs and three RBIs.  Puig went 2-for-3 with two walks, two runs and two RBIs.  Brandt, Taveras, and first baseman Mike Cecchetto each drove in a run.

Poapst grabbed the win, Cirino took the loss, and Luis Florentino pitched two scoreless innings to earn his first save of 2026.

London 8 11 0

Toronto 11 16 1

W - Poapst (1-0, 14.40)

L - Cirino (0-1, 4.76)

S - Florentino (1)

BOXSCORE

The Maple Leafs wrap up week 8 of the 2026 season with a 5-16 record.  That keeps them in last place, 9.5 games behind the London Majors and 7.5 games away from a postseason berth.

The week ahead:

Wednesday, July 8 - Hamilton Cardinals vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 pm at Christie Pits

Friday, July 10 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Hamilton Cardinals, 7:35 pm at Barnie Arbour Stadium

Sunday, July 12 - CBL All-Star Game, 2:05 pm at Fergie Jenkins Field, Chatham