In Burlington last night, Damon Topolie (above) gave new meaning to the term “pull up your socks”.
Ah, not really. It’s a common thing for a baseball player to hike his socks up when he or his team is in a slump. It shakes things up. It helps you swing better and run faster. It brings the wins. This is true factual science.
Topolie – the Toronto Maple Leafs’ player-manager – yanked ‘em high last night, and it worked. He knocked four of the Leafs’ 13 hits and scored two runs en route to a slump-busting 4-2 win over the Bandits.
While Topolie rumbled round the bases flashing his funky fresh Ruthian style, Jas Shergill was aceing it on the mound. Shergill gave up five hits and two unearned runs over six innings, earning his first win of the season and preserving his perfect 0.00 ERA. Dan Procopio and Justin Cicatello finished the final three innings and Cicatello nailed down his third save.
A couple of well deserved shout outs to Grant Tamane, who laid down a wicked bunt, and to Glenn Jackson, who ripped one into right field for a triple. Neither play figured in any of the scoring, but they were good to see.
So the slump is over and everyone can breathe again. But not for too long, as the Leafs travel from one tony, affluent hamlet to another – they play the Majors in London later tonight.
Game Recap:
Steven Dressler and Jas Shergill got the starts for the Burlington Bandits and Toronto Maple Leafs respectively. Each pitcher held the other club scoreless for the first two innings.
The Leafs got on the board first. Right fielder Darryl Pui reached first on an error, then scored on a double by second baseman Jalen Harris. Harris advanced to third, then scored on a sac fly by catcher Grant Tamane to make it 2-0 Toronto.
Burlington tied the score in the bottom of the 4th. Third baseman Tyler Patzalek led off with a single. Catcher Tyler Hardie moved him to second and reached first base on a hit that got by Shergill for an error. Left fielder Dan Treccia hit into a fielder’s choice that put him on first and moved Patzalek to third, while Hardie was out at second. Patzalek and Treccia both ended up scoring on a double by Jeff Kosta, and the game was tied 2-2.
The Leafs retook the lead in the 6th. Topolie singled, then moved to second on a single by shortstop Dan Marra. Darryl Pui then belted a double to drive in Topolie and give his side a 3-2 edge.
The Leafs added another run in the 7th off the bat of third baseman Sean Mattson. Topolie had singled ahead of him and moved to second on a wild pitch. A double by Mattson brought home the insurance run.
Shergill completed six innings, then was relieved by Dan Procopio and Justin Cicatello over the final three innings. The Bandits got a run back in the bottom of the 8th as Procopio gave up an RBI single to Hardie. Cicatello came in after that and kept the Bandits off the board for 1.2 innings to seal the 4-2 win and earn his third save of the season.
Toronto 4-13-2
Burlington 3-9-1
W - Shergill (1-0)
L - Dressler (0-2)
S - Cicatello (3)
BOXSCORE
The Maple Leafs are now 7-7 and in 4th place, 4 games behind the Barrie Baycats. Their next game is literally a few hours from now against the London Majors in the Forest City.
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