TORONTO – The Guelph Royals will be fighting for their playoff lives Tuesday when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs at Hastings Stadium.
The Royals trail their best-of-five opening round Intercounty Baseball League playoff series 2-1.
Toronto and Guelph split their games Sunday afternoon at Christie Pits.
In Game 1, which resumed three days after it was suspended, Guelph’s Josh Garton went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in a 5-0 win. Malik Collymore drove in a run and Ethan Hammond singled twice.
Claudio Custodio went the distance three days apart, scattering seven hits and walking four while striking out nine.
Jose Vinicio and Garrett Takamatsu each had a pair of hits for the Leafs. Wilgenis Alvarado took the loss, allowing two runs on six hits over five innings. He walked one and struck out one.
In Game 3, played after the conclusion of Game 1, the Leafs scored three times in the bottom of the seventh to fuel a 6-5 win.
Vinicio went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs. Jordan Castaldo, Takamatsu, Johnathan Solazzo and Greg Carrington drove in the other runs.
Chris Nagorski picked up the win in relief. He allowed a run on two hits in an inning. Dustin Richardson was perfect in the ninth inning to earn the save. Leafs’ starter Daniel Procopio went six innings and gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts.
Garton once again homered for the Royals, a solo shot. Custodio went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Collymore and Interisano drove in the other runs. Kyle Kush had a pair of hits.
Yomar Concepcion took the loss, giving up two runs on a hit and a walk without recording an out. Kyle Thomas started and went 6.1 innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits with a walk and eight strikeouts.
Saturday night at Hastings Stadium in Game 2, Takamatsu’s two-run home run in the top of the 10th inning was the difference in Toronto’s 5-3 win.
Vinicio went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run in the win, and Yoichi Ishihara drove in a run and scored.
Collymore, Barlas and Interisano drove in the Royals’ runs. J.D. Williams had two hits and a run, and Conner Morro went 3-for-5.
Game 5, if necessary, goes Wednesday night in Toronto.
