On a brilliant sunny day at Christie Pits, the Toronto Maple Leafs took an early lead and never looked back en route to an 8-1 demolition job on the Hamilton Cardinals.
Glenn Jackson got things going with a lead off single and a run scored to start the game. Jackson would get two more hits, a stolen base and two more runs scored later in the game. Jon Waltenbury (above) blasted a 3-run homer in the 3rd inning. In between them in the order, Dan Marra collected three hits, three stolen bases and an RBI, and his batting average rose to .410 - third best in the IBL.
It's an interesting mix at the top of the Leafs' order. Jackson and Waltenbury are "straw that stirs the drink" types: vocal, animated, their at bats are must-see events. On the other hand, Marra is "the quiet Beatle". He's there and he performs as good as anyone on the field of play, but he's truly the silent assassin this season - before you even notice him out there, he's done more damage than most others in the batting order.
Toronto ace Marek Deska improved on his strong start to the season, striking out four Cardinals, walking none and giving up just four hits over six innings en route to the win.
The Leafs' bullpen continued its dominant form as Christian Botnick and Jas Shergill combined for three shutout innings to close out the game.
It was a good old fashioned pasting today, as the Leafs won a home-and-home weekend series against the Cards (who lost another game sandwiched in between, in Brantford the day before).
Today's win was the kind that you'd like to see every time. The home nine slugged and stole and scored aplenty, while their hurlers shut down the other side. One-quarter of the way into the season, their 6-3 record is good for third place. Elsewhere in the IBL, some pre-season favourites have stumbled out of the gate, and some of the perennial strugglers are starting to slide, so the Christie Crazies have a lot more to look forward to this summer.
Top to bottom, these Leafs are looking scary good.
Game Recap:
Sunday starter Marek Deska began this game by giving up a bunt single to Hamilton Cardinals centerfielder Andris Rizquez. However, a fielder's choice and a doubleplay got Deska out of the inning unscathed.
Deska's opposite, Taylor Bratton, did not get off to as smooth a start. He gave up a leadoff single to centerfielder Glenn Jackson, and Jackson would eventually score on a shot by DH Jon Waltenbury that was fielded for an error. 1-0 after one.
In the bottom of the 3rd, with two outs, Jackson and second baseman Dan Marra both singled, bringing Waltenbury back to the plate. Waltenbury launched a 3-run home run - his first of the season - to make it 4-0 for the Leafs.
The Cardinals got on the scoreboard in the 5th inning. Second baseman Anthony Rizquez was safe at first and reached second on a grounder that Deska fielded and threw past first baseman Tony Alvarez for an error. Groundouts by first baseman Michael Gottschalk and leftfielder Kyle Gappa brought Rizquez around to score and it was 4-1 Leafs, halfway through the 5th.
The Leafs got that run right back. Marra singled, then stole second and third while Waltenbury was at the plate. Waltenbury struck out, but a single by leftfielder Raul Borjas brought Marra in to score, and it was 5-1 after the 5th.
After six innings, Deska turned the ball over to Christian Botnick, who pitched a scoreless 7th.
Jas Shergill came in and pitched a scoreless top half of the 8th. In the bottom of the inning, the Leafs added three more runs off of reliever Dustin Godden. Rightfielder Justin Gianfrancesco reached first on a flyball that was dropped by Gappa. Shortstop Tyler Mitchell singled next, and then Gianfrancesco stole third base. Godden then attempted to pick Mitchell off at first, but his throw eluded Gottschalk. As the ball rolled into right field, Gianfrancesco trotted home and Mitchell ran all the way to third. A double by Jackson plated Mitchell, and Jackson scored on a hit by Marra. That made it 8-1 for the Leafs after the 8th.
Shergill returned to the mound to pitch a perfect 9th inning and clinch the 8-1 final score.
Hamilton 1-6-3
Toronto 8-13-1
W - Deska (2-1)
L - Bratton (1-1)
BOXSCORE
The Maple Leafs are now 6-3 and 1.5 games behind the 7-1 Barrie Baycats, who visit Christie Pits next, on June 4. No word if ESPN will be picking this one up or not.
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