The Hamilton Cardinals ran up leads of 4-1 and 8-4 in the early going of their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Bernie Arbour Stadium last night, but the Leafs relied on some stellar relief pitching and a huge output from the bottom of the order to grind out a 10-8 win.
The Leafs smashed a bottle and fought their way out of this ambush. Wins like these are exhilarating to watch.
Damon Topolie, Tyler Mitchell (above) and Dan Marra batted 7-8-9 in the order and combined for 7 hits and 8 RBIs.
Dan Procopio, Christian Botter and Justin Cicatello pitched the final 6.2 innings of the game and combined to give up just two hits while striking out 12.
They came to the rescue of Adam Garner, who got jumped by the Cardinals for 7 hits and 8 runs (7 earned) in just 2.1 innings of work. It was tough to watch because normally I love watching Garner pitch. His delivery is all flying limbs and swooping motions. At one point during his release, his head dips below 2/3 of the rest of his body. Watching Garner pitch is like watching a crane take flight.
But the crane got swarmed by some angry redbirds and exited early. The relief corps picked him up and the Leafs' bats slowly battled back to retake the lead and add a late insurance run.
A stellar play by Damon Topolie - catching a laser shot and doubling off a baserunner at first - ended the game and sealed the win in style.
Game Recap:
As the setting sun lit up the field at Bernie Arbour Stadium in Hamilton, the Toronto Maple Leafs jumped to an early lead against the host Cardinals. Centerfielder Glenn Jackson led off with a single and moved to second before the ball could be returned to the infield. Rightfielder Grant Tamane and DH Jon Waltenbury each hit into fielder's choices to move Jackson around to score the first run of the game.
The early lead was short-lived as Hamilton sent eight men to the plate in the bottom of the 1st against Adam Garner. The Leafs' starter was tagged for three hits and a walk and the Cardinals led 4-1 after one inning.
The Leafs hit back against starter Brett van Pelt the top of the 2nd. Toronto's infielders got four hits in a row to tie the game. It went like this: third baseman Sean Mattson (double); first baseman Damon Topolie (double, Mattson scores); shortstop Tyler Mitchell (double, Topolie scores); second baseman Dan Marra (single, Mitchell scores). After that rally, it was a 4-4 game.
Garner pitched a perfect 2nd, but got knocked out in the 3rd. Hamilton got its own rally going, and it went like this: centerfielder Dre Celestijn (double); DH Daniel Jagdeo (double; Celestijn scores); leftfielder Jon Saporsantos (single, Jagdeo to third). Garner struck out the next batter, but then gave up a three-run home run to catcher Zack Sardellitti that made it 8-4 Cardinals after the 3rd inning.
It remained that way until the top of the 6th. Mattson drew a walk and Topolie singled, then Marra hit a 2-RBI double that made it 8-6.
Van Pelt was relieved by Tim Krawczyk to start the 7th, and the Leafs went back to work. DH Jon Waltenbury drew a walk, then leftfielder Raul Borjas hit a single. With one out, Mattson reached first base on a fielding error and Waltenbury came around to score. Borjas scored next on a ground out by Topolie that tied the game. Mitchell walked next, and the Leafs went ahead on another hit by Marra that scored Mattson and gave the Leafs a 9-8 lead.
Pitchers Dan Procopio and Christian Botter relieved Garner in the middle innings of the game. Procopio was untouchable - he struck out six of the nine batters he faced - and Bottle followed with a perfect 6th inning. Leafs closer Justin Cicatello took over for the final three innings.
The Leafs added an insurance run in the top of the 9th, as Mitchell drove in another run and Mattson scored his fourth of the game.
The Cardinals started a rally in the bottom of the 9th. Pinch hitter Kyle Gappa singled and shortstop Chris Beer was hit by a Cicatello pitch. However the next batter flied out, and Topolie made an unassisted double play at first on a liner by Celestijn to end the game 10-8.
Toronto 10-12-1
Hamilton 8-9-5
W - Botter (1-0)
L - Krawczyk (0-1)
S - Cicatello (2)
BOXSCORE
The Maple Leafs are now 5-3 and 2 games behind the 6-0 Barrie Baycats. Their next game is home at Christie Pits against these same Redbirds on June 1.
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