Pitching Struggles as Maple Leafs Winning Streak Comes to an End
TORONTO -- An off night.
The Kitchener Panthers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 14-6 on Wednesday evening to improve to 5-5 on the season.
With the loss, the Maple Leafs fall to 7-6 and have their four-game winning streak snapped.
Kitchener starter Jacob Douglas picked up the win for the Panthers, pitching five innings and striking out four while allowing four earned runs on eight hits.
Panthers shortstop Stephen Whalen led the way at the plate, going two-for-three with a walk.
Toronto starter Diego Dominguez took the loss, allowing three earned runs on two hits and three walks in three innings pitched.
KITCHENER - 14-14-1
TORONTO - 6-12-0
BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME: Up 6-4 in the top of the sixth inning, Panthers catcher Simon Grinberg hit a bases-clearing double to give the roadside an 8-4 lead.
BY THE NUMBERS...
2. For the second game in a row, Maple Leafs catcher Justin Marra hit a home run to right field. There is no question that the home runs may begin to come in bunches for the 2021 IBL home run leader.
2. For the second time in the last four games, a Maple Leaf left the game with an injury. First, it was Dan Marra in Barrie on Thursday after injuring himself stealing second base. Now, it was Greg Carrington, who left the game after injuring himself running to first in the bottom of the fourth inning. The injury led to designated hitter Damon Topolie having to play first base and first basemen Jordan Castaldo having to play centre field, a position he had not played in years.
8. Dominguez, reliever Yuesi Teraoka -- who relieved the Leafs starter on this night -- and Adam Marra walked a combined eight batters. An off-night for the Leafs pitching staff, who came into the game with only 37 walks to their name -- the second-lowest total in the league, behind only the London Majors.
LOOKING AHEAD...
The Leafs and Panthers face off again on Thursday, this time in Kitchener, to wrap up the home-and-home.
From there, the Leafs will welcome the Hamilton Cardinals to Christie Pits for the first time this season on Sunday.
Photo: Craig Aikin