Majors win 9-7
Copious amounts of lime-flavoured long weekend beer help compensate for a frustrating day at Christie Pits.
It was one of those days where anything the Toronto Maple Leafs did, the London Majors did just a bit more.
The Leafs hit two homers. The Majors did too.
The Leafs rang up 10 hits. The Majors rang up 12.
The Leafs had a big 4-run inning and scattered three more runs. The Majors had a big 4-run inning and scattered three more runs, but also scored two more than Toronto.
Toronto starter Brett Van Pelt went 4.2 innings for the loss. London starter Oscar Perez went 6.0 innings for the win.
Anything the Leafs could do, the Majors could do better.
The umpires got into the act too. For one bad call at the plate, there was another out in the field. Manger Perry Mader was not amused, neither were some of the players.
It's early days. The Leafs showed some great fight-back, responding to a big London inning with one of their own. Tyler Mitchell led the way with three hits, and Jon Waltenbury and Sean Mattson each drove in a pair of runs. It wasn't enough for the home nine to prevail on this day, but the bats are coming around, the pitching is there, and if it all comes together, there should be good things to come from this squad.
Game Recap:
The Maple Leafs jumped to an early lead in the bottom of the 1st inning. Centerfielder Tyler Mitchell hit a leadoff double off London starter Oscar Perez, and advanced and scored on groundouts by second baseman Dan Marra and rightfielder Jon Waltenbury. 1-0 Leafs.
Waltenbury added to the home lead with a solo home run that made it 2-0 Leafs after 4 innings.
Toronto starter Brett Van Pelt cruised through the first four innings, giving up just 2 hits. The Majors got to him in the top of the 5th, stroking four hits for four runs. Van Pelt also gave up a walk and a wild pitch. When the dust settled it was 4-2 Majors after the 5th inning.
The Majors scored two more runs in the 6th inning. DH Michael Ambrose doubled, then came home on a single by shortstop Paul Lytwynec, who advanced to second on the play. A single by leftfielder Julio Guzman drove home Lytwynec to make it 6-2 Majors after six.
Rightfielder Argenis Vargas hit a solo home run off reliever Adam Garner that made it 7-2 Majors midway through the 7th inning.
Majors starter Perez pitched into the 7th, when the Leafs finally got to him. First baseman Will Richards led off with a single, and Sean Mattson, who came on to play third, followed with a home run. Shortstop Connor Lewis singled next, as did Mitchell, and Perez got the hook after giving up four straight hits. Mitch Lumley came on to pitch for London, but he gave up a walk and two more hits before getting out of the inning. 7-6 Majors after seven.
Justin Cicatello pitched the 8th inning for Toronto. He gave up a leadoff double to Guzman, who advanced to second on a putout, then scored on a sac fly by second baseman and former Maple Leaf Cody Mombourquette. 8-6 Majors after the 8th inning.
Cicatello gave up a solo home run to third baseman Alex Martinez that gave the Majors a 9-6 lead going into the bottom of the 9th inning.
The Leafs manufactured one more run, as Mitchell walked and stole second, advanced to third on an error by catcher Larry Gonzalez, then scored on a fielder's choice. But that was all the home side could muster as the game ended with a 9-7 final score.
London 9-12-2
Toronto 7-10-0
W- Perez (2-0, 4.09)
L- Van Pelt (0-1, 3.72)
S- Lumley (1)
BOXSCORE
The Leafs are now 1-2 and 2 games behind these same Majors. They hit the road for their next game on Saturday, May 23, in Burlington against the winless Bandits.
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