Panthers blown out by Maple Leafs
KITCHENER - Nothing went right for the Kitchener Panthers.
On a rare Friday night home game, Kitchener gave up 13 runs on 18 hits as the Maple Leafs rolled to a 13-4 win at Jack Couch Park.
Both marks were season highs for Toronto, who scored in seven of the nine innings.
Kitchener could not get out of the gate against Nick Veselinovic, who gave up four hits and two runs in six innings for the win. He struck out five and walked three.
The Panthers had base runners in most innings, but Toronto shut them down.
Malik Williams hit a two-run moonshot in the seventh to give Kitchener some life, but the game was already well in hand.
Evan Elliott surrendered seven runs on 12 hits in four innings and took the loss.
Kitchener has now lost five straight and dropped to 5-8 on the season. Toronto improved to 3-7.
The Panthers will look to right the ship in a home-and-home weekend series with Guelph.
The two meet at Hastings Stadium Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. before heading to Kitchener for a Sunday afternoon showdown at 2 p.m.
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