Leafs win 9-2
For the second game in a row, a newcomer powered the Toronto Maple Leafs to victory.
Yesterday it was Jason Freeman knocking balls out of the park at Burlington. Today at Christie Pits, it was Dillan Mulholland (above) pitching seven strong innings and striking out 10 to shut down the Hamilton Cardinals.
Mulholland was supported by an offensive assault that tallied up 14 hits and 9 runs for the home side. Unlike Freeman's six-RBI barrage yesterday, the Leafs balanced out the attack as five different players drove in one or two runs each.
Both teams coughed up a couple of runs in the first inning before the starters - Mulholland and Mitch Gardiner for Hamilton - settled down. Toronto held a 4-2 lead before running away with a 5-run 8th inning that put the game out of reach and pleased the throngs of hillside-sprawling fans at the Pits.
It's not hard to calculate success for a ballclub: if you beat the teams below you, you'll be doing well. If you beat the teams above you, you'll do even better.
So far in this young season, the Leafs have been whaling on lesser clubs with shorter benches. However, they have fallen to still-undefeated powers like Kitchener and London.
Up next they face a huge early challenge as they will play Barrie twice and Brantford once over four days later this week. Between them, these two clubs have won the last seven IBL championships. Time for the Leafs to cowboy up and show the IBL what they've got.
Game Recap:
Under mostly sunny skies, the Toronto Maple Leafs sent Dillan Mulholland to the mound to face the visiting Hamilton Cardinals. Second baseman Anthony Rizquez singled and centerfielder Nate Mastervick doubled, and a sac fly by first baseman Jon Saporsantos put the Cards on the board as Rizquez came in to score. A single by third baseman Joel Brophy drove in Mastervick and the visitors were off to a 2-0 lead, but that would be the end of their scoring on the day.
The home side responded immediately. Centerfielder Tyler Mitchell singled but got picked off by Hamilton starter Mitch Gardiner. Second baseman Dan Marra walked and stole second, then moved to third on a passed ball four that walked first baseman Jon Waltenbury. DH Damon Topolie then reached first on an error by Brophy that also allowed Marra to score. Another passed ball let Waltenbury race home from third and it was 2-2 after the first inning.
Both starters settled down and pitched scoreless innings until the bottom of the 4th. Third baseman Johnathan Solazzo drew a walk, then shortstop Ryan White reached first on a fielder's choice and an error. Mitchell atoned for his pickoff in the first by smacking an RBI double to plate White. 3-2 Leafs after the 4th.
The Leafs tacked on another run in the bottom of the 6th. Right fielder Jason Freeman hit a double and scored on a single by White. 4-2 Leafs after the 6th.
Mulholland was relieved after seven innings by Dan Zlotnick, who pitched a scoreless top of the 8th.
The game was blown open for good in the bottom of the 8th, as the Leafs put up six hits and drove in five off three different Hamilton relievers. Freeman, Solazzo, White and pinch hitter Cooper Stanley each tagged Benson Merritt for a hit. Solazzo doubled to score Freeman, and White singled to drive in Solazzo. Dylan Grosul came in to pitch, and he promptly gave up singles to Marra and Waltenbury, who drove in White and Stanley. Brandon Tamburro was called in from the pen, but he walked left fielder Raul Borjas and hit Freeman in the back with a pitch for the rare HBP-RBI as Marra trotted home with his second run of the day. When the Cards finally got out of the innings, they were down 9-2.
Zlotnick got the first out of the 9th, and Christian Botnick got the other two to nail down the 9-2 final for the Leafs.
Hamilton 2-5-2
Toronto 9-14-2
W - Mulholland (1-0, 2.57)
L - Gardiner (0-2, 4.50)
BOXSCORE
The Maple Leafs are now 3-2 and they have edged up to 4th place, 2.5 games behind the undefeated London Majors. Their next game is back at Christie Pits this Wednesday night, May 27th, to host the defending IBL champion Barrie Baycats.
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