Leafs' late comeback spoils quality MacNeil start

KITCHENER - A rough seventh inning for the Kitchener Panthers bullpen, hit batters, missed opportunities. It all led to a tough 9-5 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs Sunday at Jack Couch Park.

Owen MacNeil was in line for the win after the Panthers took a 3-2 lead into the seventh.

But the bullpen got rocked for four runs, including a three-run bomb from Dennis Dei Banning. 

They would add two more runs in each of the eighth and ninth innings.

MacNeil gave up two runs on three hits in six innings and struck out a season-high 11 batters. But he did have his fair share of miscues, walking five batters and issuing two more free passes via the hit by pitch.

The Panthers hit five batters altogether.

Kade Kozak took the loss, facing just three batters to start the seventh. He walked the first two and gave up the home run.

Drew Howard took the win, giving up three runs on four hits in three innings. He walked five and fanned five.

Kitchener hosts Hamilton on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. to begin a busy stretch, where they play eight games in 10 days leading into the all-star showdown in Hamilton.

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