The Burlington Bandits stole a rain-shortened win at Christie Pits this afternoon, leaving the Toronto Maple Leafs and their fans all wet.
Let's be blunt here: shit day, shit game, shit result.
It was sunny at the start of the game, but grey clouds the colour of Burlington's clown costumes* rolled in quickly. Rain came in fits and starts, causing the small group of fans in attendance to shelter under umbrellas or trees for a few minutes before re-emerging.
The Bandits jumped on Maple Leafs starter Marek Deska early, while Burlington starter Jason Rubenstein and the fielders behind him were able to stymie a couple of big scoring chances and hang onto the lead.
Play was halted by ongoing rain and worsening field conditions during the bottom of the 3rd inning. It happened at the worst possible moment, as the Leafs had loaded the bases with no outs. When play resumed a half-hour later, the Leafs managed to get two runs across the plate, but Burlington blew it open in the 5th.
By then, the weather was worsening again, this time a heavy downpour that started turning the infield into a mudpit. The umpire called the game the moment it became official, and everyone ran for cover.
By the time I had raced to the subway station, my shoes were soaked through. Shit day.
The Leafs continued their on-again, off-again routine by following a win with a loss. They loaded the bases twice and didn't do enough with the opportunities. They also committed four errors in the field. Shit game.
It was clear that the last-place Bandits - some of whom look like they just got their driver's license - were thrilled with the win, the way they whooped it up when the game was called. Meanwhile, the Leafs are back in the L column. Shit result.
* There, I said it. When the Burlington (formerly Mississauga) Twins rebranded this year as the Bandits, their on-field look took a step back. The Burlington Twins used to wear a black and gold colour scheme, featuring gold - GOLD! - jerseys, and black hats with a big honkin' "B" on them, also gold. Those hats were total sweetness. I mean seriously, last year's Burlington uniform towers over the red-and-pewter candy cane thing they got going on now. That's my Uni-Watch moment, thanks for reading.
Recap:
The game got off to an ugly start for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Starter Marek Deska gave up a single to Burlington Bandits centerfielder Ryan Clarke and a walk to shortstop Levi Larmour to start things off. With a 1-2 count on the next batter, Clarke and Larmour took off on a double steal. Catcher Damon Topolie's throw to second was high and went into centerfield, allowing Clarke to come around to score. First baseman Kyle Morton then hit a 2-run homer over the right field fence. The inning dragged on. Deska walked right fielder Jeff MacLeod, who then took off for second base during the next at bat. Topolie sent another throw into the outfield and MacLeod advanced to third base. A single by second baseman Daniel Peake scored MacLeod and the Bandits were off to a 4-0 lead after one-half of an inning.
The Leafs went down in order in the bottom of the 1st, and Burlington added to their lead in the next inning. Clarke stretched a single into two bases on a fielding error by rightfielder Sean Reilly. Clarke stole third, then scored on a double by leftfielder Peter Bako. In the bottom of the frame, the Leafs loaded the bases but stranded three runners on base. It was 5-0 Bandits after the 2nd inning.
The Leafs loaded the bases to start the home half of the 3rd inning. Centerfielder Glenn Jackson walked, second baseman Dan Marra singled, and DH Jon Waltenbury walked. After a 28-minute rain delay, play resumed and Reilly drew a walk off Burlington starter Jason Rubenstein to bring one run in. Marra was tagged on a play at the plate. A ground out by first baseman Will Richards brought Waltenbury home, and it was 5-2 after the 3rd inning.
Morton doubled in a run to make it 6-2 Bandits after the 4th inning.
Adam Garner relieved Deska to start the 5th inning. Catcher Brian Sewell walked, then moved to second on a ground out. Sewell went to third and Larmour reached first on an error by shortstop Branfy Arias - Toronto's fourth error of the day. Bako then singled to score Sewell. Morton then drove in his fourth run of the game with a single that scored Larmour. DH Nick Studer then belted a shot to the centerfield fence. Jackson threw it in to Arias, who relayed it to Marra. Studer was tagged out, but not before Bako and Morton had scored. Suddenly it was 10-2 Burlington.
Rain returned in the bottom of the 5th inning, as the Leafs attempted a comeback. Waltenbury doubled, but then Reilly and Richards hit two fly outs to left field. Third baseman Sean Mattson walked. Mattson and Waltenbury moved to second and third on a wild pitch. Arias then hit a grounder back to Rubenstein, who threw wild to first. Arias was safe, Mattson was on third, and Waltenbury scored. Topolie then singled to score Mattson. By now, everyone was scrambling for cover again as a massive downpour started. In one of those great injustices that happen in baseball, Rubenstein was yanked for reliever Matthew St.Kitts. All St. Kitts had to do was strike out left fielder Rob Gillis to end the game, and he earned himself a win. Rubenstein got jack squat, but his Bandit teammates hooted and hollered as they splashed off the field. The umpire had called the game and it ended 10-4 for Burlington after 5 innings.
The Maple Leafs are now 11-15, tied for fifth place with the Hamilton Cardinals and 12 games behind the Brantford Red Sox. They have a couple of make-up games on the schedule this week, starting with a rescheduled game against the Guelph Royals, on July 9 in Guelph.
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