Panthers drop close, yet wild affair, with Maple Leafs

KITCHENER - Thirty-six runs. Thirty-seven hits. Three lead changes. Claw back after claw back.

But at the end of a wild, near four-hour affair - a game that started 15 minutes late due to travel issues - the Toronto Maple Leafs held on for a 19-17 win over the Kitchener Panthers Thursday night at Jack Couch Park.

Things seemed well in hand for Kitchener. A 7-1 lead after the fourth, home runs from Simon Grinberg, Eric Martin and Raul Gonzalez, Yadian Martinez was cooking on the mound.

That was until the sixth inning.

Charlie Towers highlighted a seven-run sixth with a three-run home run to give Toronto the 8-7 lead.

The bottom of the inning had its share of drama. Kitchener would take back the lead, but not before an interaction between Toronto's Angel Castro and Gonzalez after the Cuban infielder was hit by a pitch.

Castro was pulled in the same instance. He also went 5.2 innings, surrendering nine runs on 11 hits, striking out six and walking one. He later got thrown out by the home plate umpire.

Kitchener's lead didn't last long. Toronto would post another touchdown on the board the next inning to flip the tables and take a six run lead, make it 15-9.

Kitchener got it to 15-14, and spent the rest of the game clawing back. But Toronto had an answer each time.

Blake Jacklin and Tyler Hinrikus also went yard for Kitchener. 

Eight of Kitchener's nine starters registered a hit. Gonzalez's single in the third inning put him at 100 career IBL hits.

Jacklin, Martin and Nolan Misa all had three hits on the night. Spenser Ross, fresh off consideration for an IBL Batter of the Week nod, kept rolling with a one-for-four outing to extend his hit streak to five games.

Martin's hit streak was extended to seven games, dating back to his final game of 2023.

Toronto had seven batters register multi-hit games. Four of them, Jose Vinicio, Marcus Knecht, Dan Marra and Towers, had three hits apiece.

Kitchener is off until Sunday when they visit London for a 1:05 p.m. first pitch.

The next home game is next Thursday, July 25 against Hamilton at 7:30 p.m.

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