Leafs Win 13-1
The Toronto Maple Leafs launched their 47th IBL season this afternoon at Christie Pits with a 16-hit, 13-run demolition job on the Hamilton Cardinals.
Second baseman Dan Marra (above) led the assault with 3 hits and 4 RBIs to earn the Player of the Game honours.
The visiting Hamiltonians were in a giving mood as they made three errors in the field, and their pitchers conspired to uncork five wild pitches. The Cards' miscues kept the Leafs moving around the bases all afternoon, on the rare occasions when the home nine weren't practicing the art of "hit em where they ain't".
While the Leafs' hitters went at it hammer and tongs all afternoon, their pitchers were virtually untouchable. Five of them combined to hurl 12 strikeouts, and the Cards managed to scrape out one measly hit and one measly walk all afternoon.
It may be an early season case of heatstroke talking, but this Maple Leafs team looks huge. Massive. Unstoppable. Heatstroke.
Several new faces give a fresh look to this team, including pitchers Brett Van Pelt and Dan Zlotnick (both lethal today), infielders Johnathan Solazzo (lethal), Will Richards (lethal) and Connor Lewis (lethal), as well as catcher Brendan Keys (also lethal).
It was a brilliant opener. Perfect weather, mostly sunny and in the mid-20s. The usual pregame hooplah featured ceremonial tosses by Ferguson Jenkins, Bill "Spaceman" Lee, Steve Rogers and Bret Saberhagen. Loads of fans sprawled all over the slopes of Christie Pits, and the Christie Crazies packed the seating area that hugs the infield.
The new season is off to a good start. The badass Kitchener Panthers roll into town next week for a good early test. For now, it's time to lie down and take in plenty of fluids.
Game Recap:
Former Cardinal Brett Van Pelt got the start for Toronto, and he pitched three perfect innings before turning the ball over to Marek Deska, who gave up the only Hamilton hit of the day in the top of the 5th.
By then, the game was en route to a blowout.
The Leafs got things started in the 1st, as starting rightfielder Jon Waltenbury scored on a combination of walk-wild pitch-error-RBI single by leftfielder Raul Borjas. Combinations like these were the norm today. 1-0 Leafs after the 1st.
The home side scored three more in the 2nd. Starting catcher Brendan Keys walked, and moved to second on a single by shortstop Connor Lewis. Both men moved up a base on a single by centerfielder Tyler Mitchell. The bases cleared on a single by second baseman Dan Marra, that ended up being played for an error by the Hamilton centerfielder. 4-0 Leafs after the 2nd.
The game was blown open for good in the bottom of the 4th, as the Leafs sent 13 men to the plate and scored seven more runs. Starting first baseman Will Richards walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. Raul Borjas then singled and moved to second on a wild pitch. Third baseman Johnathan Solazzo drove them both in with a single that knocked Hamilton starter Tomas Rincon out of the game with seven runs (six of them earned) hung around his neck. Solazzo advanced to second on a wild pitch, then DH Damon Topolie walked. Brendan Keys drove in Solazzo with a single. Lewis singled to load the bases. A single by Mitchell scored Topolie. A single by Marra scored Keys and Lewis. Mitchell scored on a putout by Richards and when the dust finally settled, the Leafs enjoyed an 11-0 lead.
Toronto tacked on one more in the bottom of the 5th. Topolie walked, advanced on a wild pitch, and again on a ground out by Keys, then scored on a sac fly hit by Lewis. 12-0 Leafs after the 5th.
Three Toronto relievers - Dan Zlotnick, Adam Garner, and Justin Cicatello - rolled through the final four innings, holding the Cards to a single unearned run. It came in the top of the 7th. Garner walked Hamilton centerfielder Nick Jambrosic. He then balked on a messed up throw to first and Jambrosic moved up a base. Third baseman Josh Toporowski hit a grounder that shortstop Lewis misplayed for an error, and Jambrosic scored the only Hamilton run of the day. 12-1 after the 7th.
Solazzo scored the Leafs' final run of the day in the 8th. He walked, moved to second on a single by Topolie, then scampered home on an outfield single by Keys. And that was all she wrote. 13-1 FINAL.
Hamilton 1-1-3
Toronto 13-16-3
W - Deska (1-0)
L - Rincon (0-1)
BOXSCORE
The Maple Leafs are off to a winning start. Their next game is home again at Christie Pits on May 10, against the Kitchener Panthers.
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