Doors Open Toronto -- the annual urban exploration thing -- doesn't happen here until next weekend, but the Toronto Maple Leafs were slamming doors open and shut all day en route to a 5-3 victory over the London Majors.
It was a mostly cloudy afternoon at Christie Pits, and the clusters of fans scattered around the park found themselves hassled by occasional sprays of drizzle as the game was played.
The home side struck early, as newcomer Tony Alvarez (above) blasted a three-run homer in the 1st inning.
On the back of five scoreless innings spun by starter Marek Deska, the Leafs carried a 5-0 lead into the 8th, when London finally got on the board with three runs.
Justin Cicatello, last year's revelation, came in to slam the door shut with a scoreless 9th and the Leafs were home and dry with their third win to start the 2014 season.
So far, the Leafs have approached each game with an evident sense of purpose. Focused, businesslike... what else can I use here? Driven, relentless, unassailable? That might be over the top. It's early days. I'm still feeling my way back into this, and I'm prone to the odd misplay. Kind of like when one of Toronto's relief pitchers warmed up today, took the mound, found out his name wasn't on the scorecard, and was ushered back off the field. Woops. Early days.
Game Recap:
Blow winds, howl!
Actually, there was not so much wind today, but plenty of pesky grey clouds that rolled above Christie Pits, dropping intermittent drizzle on the usual assemblage of diehards, curiosity seekers, attentive scorekeepers, pensioners, hipsters, children, dogs, families, loners, casual viewers and the dangerously unbalanced.
Toronto Maple Leafs starting pitcher Marek Deska took the ball with purpose. He pitched a scoreless opening half, then watched as his opposite - Cory Hammond of the London Majors - pitched himself into an early jam. Hammond gave up singles to second baseman Dan Marra and leftfielder Raul Borjas. After striking out third baseman Sean Mattson, he faced catcher Tony Alvarez. New to the club and off to a slow start, Alvarez watched a strike and a ball go by, then blasted the third pitch he saw over the left field fence. 3-0 Leafs after one.
The Leafs added another run in the bottom of the 2nd. With one out, shortstop Zach Lampreia walked. Later, with two out, Lampreia was driven in by centerfielder Glenn Jackson, who ended up on second base with his 4th RBI of the season. 4-0 Leafs after 2 innings.
The closest London got to scoring early was a big flyball that was launched by first baseman Cleveland Brownlee in the 4th. The ball sailed towards the fence in right. With Jackson guiding him ("YOU GOT ROOM, YOU GOT ROOM,") rightfielder Darryl Pui drifted back, back, back. The next sound that was heard was the ball landing in Pui's glove, followed by Pui bumping against the chain link fence with a jingle. Does someone jingle against a chain link fence? It wasn't a thud, to be sure. Anyway, threat extinguished.
Deska pitched 1-2-3 innings in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th. He completely shut down the Majors, leaving the game after 5 with a line of 2H, 0R, 1BB, 4K, and an ERA of 1.50.
Things got complicated after that.
James Trebus warmed up in the Toronto pen, then went out to the mound after the Leafs ended their half of the 5th inning. He was introduced as the new pitcher (Cam Gray, according to the announcer), but the Majors quickly hailed the umpire for a conference. Trebus was not on the day's scorecard, and was thus ineligible to pitch. Player-manager Derek Topolie unleashed a four-letter oath as Trebus walked back off the field.
Enter Adam Garner, emergency reliever for the second time in three games.
Not to worry, as Garner pitched Toronto's fourth straight 1-2-3 inning.
The Leafs added a run in the bottom of the 6th. Borjas walked and reached second on a wild pitch, then came home on a single by Alvarez that made it 5-0 for the home side.
The Majors faced Jake Hines in the top of the 7th. Despite loading the bases on 2 HBPs and a single, Hines got through the inning without surrendering a run.
Toronto's next pitcher, Justin Lawrence, was not so lucky. Pitching in the top of the 8th, Lawrence gave up two hits, a walk and two wild pitches that combined to bring three runs across for London. It was now 5-3 after 8 innings and a save situation that called for Toronto's stud closer.
Justin Cicatello gave up a single to London catcher Derrik Strzalkowski to start the 9th. Cicatello then struck out two batters in a row, and the game ended on an easy ground out by London, who ended the day with 6 hits and an error, same as Toronto. The difference was the insurance run produced by Glenn Jackson way back in the 2nd inning, and Toronto won its third straight game to start the season. 5-3 final score.
London 3-6-1
Toronto 5-6-1
W - Deska (1-0)
L - Hammond (0-1)
S - Cicatello (1)
After three home games, the Leafs take their show on the road later this week, starting with a game at the Barrie Baycats on May 22.
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