I usually like to spend a few innings at Christie Pits sitting with the Toronto Maple Leafs' unofficial scorekeeper. We find a place in the grandstand seats that wrap around home plate and compare notes on the action unfolding before us. He scores the game by hand in his notebook and I snap photos with my ludicrous point & shoot camera. It's all very lo fi, but it works for us.
We discuss things. Almost each and every game, one truth that he always points out is this: the Brantford Red Sox remain the IBL's top club until someone knocks them off their pedestal.
It would be ill-advised to write off a team that has won a record six championships in a row, including last year's epic championship comeback when they were three games down and left for dead by everyone.
Sure, the Sox are off to a mediocre start in 2014. They started the day with a 6-10 record, but it's only mid-season and there are a lot of games left to play before the post-season. Until another club can eliminate them from contention once and for all, the Red Sox will keep coming back like Annie Wilkes.
Nice reminder of that today at a sun-drenched Christie Pits.
The Red Sox jumped out to a quick lead in the 1st inning, then stretched it out and held on for an 11-6 win over the Leafs.
The Leafs were scrappy. They banged out 11 hits and Raul Borjas led the way with 4 hits and 3 RBIs. But the Leafs just weren't able to cash in enough runs - they stranded eight men on base. Just one of those days.
So the clubs split a home-and-home weekend series and move on. So let's move on, dammit!
Game Recap:
The Toronto Maple Leafs welcomed the Brantford Red Sox for the conclusion of their weekend home-and-home series. Sunny skies and warm temperatures brought a slew of fans out, and they sprawled all over the Christie hillsides to soak up some rays or chillax in the shade.
Justin Lawrence got the start for Toronto. Unfortunately, he faced the entire Red Sox order in the 1st inning. Rightfielder Ben Bostick doubled to lead off, and centerfielder Terrell Alliman singled. First baseman Nick Weglarz walked to load the bases. Shortstop Lee Delfino then singled to score Bostick and keep the bases loaded. Catcher Will Richards flied out, then third baseman Jeff Hunt drew a walk that brought Alliman in to score. Lawrence struck out DH Wayne Forman, but walked in another run as leftfielder Nic Burnett took first base on balls. Second baseman Mike Bonanno grounded out to Lawrence to end the inning, but the Red Sox were already up 3-0.
Andrew Vant Wout was the starter for Brantford, and he got through the bottom of the 1st unscathed.
Bostick - flashing the highest and reddest socks of the day - led off the 2nd inning with a single. He then stole second, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on a passed ball. 4-0 Red Sox after the 2nd.
The home side got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the 3rd. Vant Wout had a spell of wildness and walked centerfielder Glenn Jackson and second baseman Dan Marra. Left fielder Raul Borjas then hit a double that cashed in Jackson and made it 4-1 Red Sox after the 3rd.
The Red Sox scored again immediately in the 4th. Burdett got a leadoff walk, moved around the bases, and scored on a single by Alliman that made it 5-1.
The Leafs got a run back in the bottom of the 5th. Jackson singled, stole second and was driven home on a hit by Borjas that made it 5-2.
Alliman continued his scoring assault and knocked Lawrence out of the game in the 6th with a three-run home run that made it 8-2.
The Leafs got one back in the bottom of the inning, as first baseman Damon Topolie doubled to lead off, and scored on a single by catcher Tony Alvarez. 8-3 Red Sox after the 6th.
Jackson started the bottom of the 7th by getting hit by a pitch from Vant Wout, who then walked Marra. Tyler Soucie came on in relief. Borjas was up next, and he reached first on a fielder's choice that saw Marra put out at second. Borjas quickly stole the base, and he and Jackson scored on a hit by DH Jon Waltenbury that ended up being fielded for an error. After the 7th, it was 8-5 Red Sox.
Jake Hines started the 8th on the mound for Toronto, but he gave up two singles and was replaced by Justin Cicatello. An intentional walk with two outs loaded the bases. The gamble did not pay off, as Delfino drove in two runs with a single, and a fielding error saw another run score to make it 11-5 Red Sox after the 8th.
The Leafs kept battling to the end. Dan Marra singled off Soucie, then moved to second on a wild pitch. Raul Borjas stepped up with a single for his third RBI of the game, but the Leafs ran out of outs and the Red Sox came away with an 11-6 win.
Brantford 11-11-3
Toronto 6-11-1
W - Vant Wout (2-0)
L - Lawrence (2-3)
BOXSCORE
The Maple Leafs are now 10-9 and in 4th place, 5 games behind the Barrie Baycats, who will be the next to visit Christie Pits on Wednesday night, June 25.
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