Sean Reilly is having a season for the ages.
Game two of yesterday's doubleheader at Hastings Stadium in Guelph saw another milestone fall, as Reilly knocked in three runs to break the league's 26-year-old single-season RBI record.
Purists may quibble over this season's expanded schedule and moan about asterisks, but in 2013 Reilly has hit more home runs (21) and more RBIs (60) than anyone in IBL history. We have witnessed the toppling of decades-old records. It's been fun to watch, considering the Leafs are at .500 and have been locked in fifth place for weeks, still waiting to find out who they will face in the upcoming post-season.
Meanwhile, I'm convinced another record may have been shattered yesterday, when Drew Taylor started on the mound for Toronto - the club's 11th different starting pitcher of the year. Kolossal!
Taylor was helped to an early lead by his teammates, who blasted Guelph Royals pitching for seven runs in the first couple of innings. Taylor held the Royals to five runs over four innings, then turned it over to ace stopper Justin Cicatello, who pitched a scoreless final three innings for the 8-5 win.
Yes, the Maple Leafs are up to .500 now with two games left to play. They are on a four-game winning streak headed back to Hamilton tonight, to replay a game that was rained out last week.
Recap:
After a 30-minute break between games of this doubleheader, firestarter Glenn Jackson leit up the second match by reaching first on a throwing error by Guelph Royals starter Lucas Borges. Shortstop Branfy Arias then whacked a double. He and Jackson both scored on a single by third baseman Sean Mattson. DH Sean Reilly then stepped up to the plate and delivered his second two-run bomb of the day, one that everyone admired as it sailed over the left field fence. It was Reilly's record-setting 21st home run of the year. 4-0 Leafs after half an inning.
Brendan Sorichetti came in to pitch the 2nd inning, but he fared little better. Rightfielder Steve Coates singled to start the inning and leftfielder Justin Gianfrancesco walked. A single by Arias drove in Coates. Mattson then walked to load the bases. A sac fly by Reilly - his record-setting 60th RBI of the season - scored Gianfrancesco. Arias would also come in on a wild pitch and it was 7-0 Leafs after the 2nd.
Leafs starter Drew Taylor held the Royals scoreless until the bottom of the 3rd, when rightfielder Dan Treccia hit an RBI single to put the home side on the board. 7-1 after the 3rd inning.
The Royals made it interesting in the bottom of the 4th. DH Duaine Bowles drew the dreaded leadoff walk, then second baseman Taylor Castrillo singled. Centerfielder Aaron Loder doubled to score Bowles. A putout at first by shortstop Robert Grilli allowed Castrillo to score. Loder then scored on a 6-3 putout by first baseman Jonathan Palumbo. The bases were now cleared, but Taylor gave up two consecutive doubles - to catcher Justin Interisano and third baseman Josh Garton - for one more run. 7-5 Leafs after the 4th inning.
Justin Cicatello relieved Taylor to start the 5th inning, and he would give up just one more Royals hit over the final three innings.
The Leafs added one more run in the top of the 7th. A single by catcher Damon Topolie drove in Mattson. Cicatello closed out the 7th inning of the shortened doubleheader game for the win, and the final score was 8-5 Toronto.
The Maple Leafs are now 20-20 and have clinched fifth place in the IBL standings. They are still waiting to find out their first-round playoff opponent. It will be either the Barrie Baycats, Kitchener Panthers, or London Majors. Their next game is a rainout makeup in Hamilton, later tonight against the Hamilton Cardinals.
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