Nothing worse than the long drive home after a tough loss on the road. All along the dark highway, you replay the key moments of the game in your mind, dwelling on the big and little things that turned the game.
Last night, there were moments of sleepy fielding, sloppy baserunning and missed opportunities that resulted in a 12 inning 3-2 win for the London Majors over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Another great start by Marek Deska went for nought.
It was a frustrating night and the Leafs expressed it in different ways: batting helmets were slammed to the ground, F-bombs rattled the back rows of the grandstand, and vocal self-flagellations were administered for all to hear.
It's better that the players get it all out at the ballpark, rather than keep it bottled up. You wouldn't want to hear that a player pulled over on the 401 an hour after the game and took a tire iron to the hood of his car. Don't get me wrong, a story like that would be amazing. But best left to the realms of fantasy.
Games at Labatt Park always have a different feel to them. Every other ballpark in the IBL is part of a sports complex, or is situated next to other fields and diamonds. Labatt sits gloriously alone, a proper stadium wedged between the Thames River and a neighbourhood of century-old houses.
Inside the park, there's more foul territory than the Oakland Coliseum. The distance between fans and players creates a feeling of disconnect. The one skinny corridor through the grandstand is always jammed. Not the best place for amateur photography.
If the players can vent so can I. It was a lousy night in London.
Game Recap:
The Toronto Maple Leafs paid their final regular season visit to Labatt Park in London and went toe-to-toe in a 12 inning nailbiter.
Marek Deska and Deinys Suarez got the start for their respective teams and they engaged in a pitchers duel over the first seven innings.
Deska didn't give up a hit until the 4th, and the game remained scoreless until the top of the 6th. Rightfielder Jalen Harris led off with a double deep to centerfield. DH Sean Mattson followed with a walk. Both runners advanced on a putout by third baseman Tyler Mitchell, then Harris raced home on a passed ball. 1-0 Leafs after the 6th.
London tied the game in the 7th. First baseman Cleveland Brownlee hit one to shallow left, and by the time it got back to the infield, he had made it all the way to second base. A single by catcher Mike Ambrose scored Brownlee and it was 1-1.
Dave Wydeven relieved Suarez to start the top of the 8th. After two quick outs, he walked Mitchell and clipped catcher Tony Alvarez on the hand with a pitch. Second baseman Grant Tamane followed with a single and Mitchell scored. 2-1 Leafs.
Justin Lawrence relieved Deska and pitched a perfect 8th, but London came back to tie the game in the bottom of the 9th. Leftfielder Paul LaMantia singled and Brownlee doubled again. After a strikeout of Ambrose, the bases were loaded intentionally. Shortstop Paul Lytwynec hit a grounder that the Leafs were unable to turn for two, and LaMantia scored. It was 2-2 and on to extras.
After a scoreless 10th, centerfielder Glenn Jackson walked to start the 11th. He moved to second on a wild pitch by Brett Sabourin, but got picked off to end the threat. Lawrence pitched another scoreless inning and it was on to the 12th.
The midnight hour approached and London finally broke the deadlock. Second baseman Cody Mombourquette hit a two-out single and moved to second on a walk to rightfielder Byron Reichstein. Third baseman Paul Young then hit a single that got past the infield and Mombourquette raced for home. The throw to catcher Alvarez was off the mark and Mombourquette scored the winning run. 3-2 Majors win in 12.
Toronto 2-8-0
London 3-10-2
(12 innings)
W - Sabourin (3-2)
L - Lawrence (3-4)
BOXSCORE
The Maple Leafs drop to 15-16 and down to 6th place, 10 games behind the Barrie Baycats. Their next game is at Christie Pits against the Burlington Bandits on Sunday, July 20.
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