Leafs beat Panthers in slugfest
KITCHENER – Thirty-six runs. Thirty-seven hits. One ejection.
Thursday’s game at Jack Couch Park between Toronto and Kitchener had it all. Nearly four hours later, the Maple Leafs won 19-17.
Jose Vinicio went 3-for-5 with a solo home run atop the Leafs’ lineup. Charlie Towers had three hits, including a three-run blast, and four RBI, while Mike Cecchetto delivered a two-run, pinch-hit home run in the eighth. Marcus Knecht and Dan Marra both had three hits, three runs and two RBI, Johnathan Solazzo singled twice and drove in two, Ryan Dos Santos went 2-for-5 with an RBI, Jordan Castaldo had two hits and three runs, and Dionysius Chialtas drove in two. ‘
Greg Carrington (1-1) picked up the win despite allowing four runs on four hits and a walk in an inning of relief. He replaced Angel Castro, who was tossed in the bottom of the sixth after hitting Kitchener’s Raul Gonzalez.
Castro was charged with nine runs on 11 hits, a walk and six strikeouts. Julian Valdez earned his second save after giving up four runs (one earned) on three hits in 2.1 innings. He walked two and fanned five.
Gonzalez led the Panthers’ offence with four hits. He drove in five, thanks in part to a three-run home run, and finished a triple short of the cycle. Blake Jacklin went 3-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and four runs. Tyler Hinrikus and Simon Grinberg each hit solo home runs, and Ethan Martin went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI. He also scored four times. Yunior Ibarra singled twice and drove in two, Nolan Misa had a trio of singles, two RBI and four runs, and A.J. Karosas drove in a run.
Nathan Laird (1-1) was saddled with the loss after yielding three runs on two hits and a walk in one-third of an inning. Yadian Martinez started and went 5.2 innings. He was touched for seven runs on eight hits with three walks and five strikeouts.
Toronto improved to 9-20, and Kitchener fell to 10-17.