Maple Leafs' Mid-Season Leaders

Another soggy June weekend washed out the Toronto Maple Leafs' Saturday and Sunday games. 

At 10-8, the Leafs are halfway through their 2015 regular season schedule.  Here's a look at the team's mid-season leaderboard.


BATTING LEADERS

JON WALTENBURY

BATTING AVG.
.397  J. WALTENBURY
.392  T. MITCHELL
.375  G. TAMANE

HOME RUNS
5  J. WALTENBURY
4  J. FREEMAN
4  S. MATTSON
4  J. SOLAZZO

RBIs
22  J. WALTENBURY
17  J. SOLAZZO
13  D. MARRA

STOLEN BASES
4  C. LEWIS
3  T. MITCHELL
3  J. SOLAZZO


PITCHING LEADERS


MAREK DESKA

WINS
4  M. DESKA
2  B. VAN PELT
2  J. CICATELLO

ERA (STARTERS)
3.38  M. DESKA / B. VAN PELT (TIED)

ERA (RELIEVERS)
0.00  C. BOTNICK

STRIKEOUTS
27  M. DESKA
24  D. ZLOTNICK
23  D. MULHOLLAND

SAVES
2  C. BOTNICK




THE GREAT FLOOD OF 2013


If it ever stops raining, the Maple Leafs' next game will be the annual Canada Day Classic at the London Majors this Wednesday evening.

The Hero's Return

Game 21: Toronto Maple Leafs at Hamilton Cardinals - June 26, 2015

Leafs win 5-1

Johnathan Solazzo played the hero last night in the first game back at his old Bernie Arbour stomping grounds.  Solazzo belted a home run and three RBIs to lift the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-1 win over the Hamilton Cardinals.

Solazzo and pitcher Brett Van Pelt were traded from Hamilton to the Leafs in the off-season.  One of the little satisfactions in baseball is to come back and beat your old team.  Although the Leafs' third baseman got to enjoy his return, Van Pelt's turn in the rotation did not line up for him to make the start. 

Justin Cicatello and Christian Botnick stepped up with heroic performances of their own.  The pitchers combined to limit the Cards to just four hits and a single run.  Normally a reliever, Cicatello makes about one start for the Leafs each season and he delivered a gem. 

The same goes for Botnick, who works lightning fast and put the Cards out of their misery in two innings of relief.  On a coolish night in the Hammer, Botnick avoided the situation that befell him at last Sunday's doubleheader at the Pits, when he overheated and ended up puking at the end of the game.  Can't say the dude doesn't leave it all on the field.

Jon Waltenbury and Jason Freeman each contributed an RBI on top of Solazzo's three.

This was a fast moving game that took less than 2 1/2 hours to play.  The Leafs bounced back from a horrendous defeat in Guelph earlier in the week, and now they look ahead to a pair of games against the Burlington Bandits this weekend, weather permitting.  (The forecast doesn't look so hot.)


Game Recap:

Tomas Rincon got the start for the Hamilton Cardinals, and gave up an early lead.  Second baseman Dan Marra and DH Jon Waltenbury both drew walks off Rincon, and third baseman singled to drive in Marra.  1-0 Leafs after a half inning.

Justin Cicatello was Rincon's opposite for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and he breezed through the early innings of this game, sending most Cards' batters back to the bench in frustration as he kept the home side off the scoreboard.

The Leafs struck again in the 5th inning.  Marra singled to lead off, advanced to second on an error, then scored on a single by rightfielder Jason Freeman.  Third baseman Johnathan Solazzo, making his first appearance in Hamilton since being traded to Toronto, followed with a 2-run home run.  That made it 4-0 Leafs after five innings.

The Leafs added another run in the 6th inning.  Johnathan Palumbo came on to relieve Rincon, and he promptly gave up a single to centerfielder Tyler Mitchell.  A groundout by catcher Brendan Keys moved Mitchell to second, and he scored on a double by Waltenbury that extended the visitors' lead to 5-0 through six.

Cicatello pitched a scoreless 7th inning before turning the ball over to Christian Botnick.  After pitching a perfect 8th, Botnick got into a jam.  He gave up an unearned run and then loaded the bases with two out, but he got the next man up to pop out to end the game and seal the 5-1 final for Toronto.


Toronto 5-10-2
Hamilton 1-4-1

W - Cicatello (2-1, 2.94)
L - Rincon (2-6, 6.04)

BOXSCORE


The Maple Leafs are now 10-8 and 4.5 games behind the Barrie Baycats.  Their road trip continues with a game against the Burlington Bandits at some gated community.

Royal Revenge

Game 20: Toronto Maple Leafs at Guelph Royals - June 23, 2015

Royals win 17-4

After getting swept in a Christie Pits doubleheader two days before, the Guelph Royals got their revenge on the Toronto Maple Leafs with a 17-4 beatdown at Hastings Stadium in the Royal City.

I couldn't make it to the game, and that wasn't a bad thing by the looks of it.  Damme!

Toronto 4-10-3
Guelph 17-16-0

W - Amelotte (1-2, 7.23)
L - Deska (4-1, 3.37)

BOXSCORE


The Maple Leafs are now 9-8 and 5 games behind the Barrie Baycats.  Their road trip continues against the Hamilton Cardinals this Friday night, in the parking lot behind Angelo Mosca's BBQ Shack and Groceteria.

Royals Flushed (Doubleheader Game 2)

Game 19: Guelph Royals at Toronto Maple Leafs - June 21, 2015

Leafs win 10-6

It was a familiar sight to see the Toronto Maple Leafs trotting the bases after a home run yesterday.  They did it three times in the second game of a Father's Day doubleheader at Christie Pits, and seven times in total on the day.

The Guelph Royals were overwhelmed by the home run derby as the Leafs came from behind to win 10-6 and sweep the doubleheader.

Unlike the first game, when the Leafs barged out to a 6-run lead in the first inning, they fell behind early in game two.  Starter Dillan Mulholland was roughed up for five runs and lasted just 2.2 innings.  Justin Cicatello and Christian Botnick came in to settle things down and allow the Leafs' bats to stage a famous comeback.

Finding themselves down 5-1 after Mulholland departed, the Leafs got him off the hook with a rally that will be remembered for Jon Waltenbury's game-winning home run.  His missile hit the snack bar beyond centerfield with such force that it left a huge crack down one corner of the structure.  For the rest of the game, fans went over to admire the damage.

Back-to-back home runs by Jason Freeman and Sean Mattson added late game punctuation marks and took any remaining wind out of the Royals' sails. 

It was a happy ending for everyone who stuck it out for the entire five-plus hours of the doubleheader: the Christie Crazies, the hipsters, the sun worshippers, the dogs and their owners, the kiddies and their parents, the Owner, the official scorekeeper, the rogue scorekeeper, the ballpark enforcers, Al the Ticket Guy, and the quiet types who like to immortalize the moments.

Following the doubleheader sweep, Guelph's record is a miserable 1-15.  They have now lost 10 in a row and their nightmare season continues as these two teams will play again in the Royal City on Tuesday night. 


Game Recap:

After a break between games of the doubleheader, the Guelph Royals jumped on the board first in game two.  Centerfielder Chandler McLaren hit a solo home run off starter Dillan Mulholland for an early 1-0 lead.

The Maple Leafs tied the game in the bottom of the frame.  Second baseman Dan Marra walked and stole second.  He advanced to third on a flyball out by first baseman Jon Waltenbury, then scored on a single by rightfielder Jason Freeman.  1-1 after one.

Mulholland gave up three straight singles in the 2nd inning, then gave up a double to former Hamilton Cardinal Anthony Risquez.  The shortstop's two-bagger scored catcher Patrick Coughlin and DH Matt Stocco.  3-1 Royals after the 2nd inning.

Feeling the big mo might be on their side, the Royals kept at it.  Mulholland hit first baseman Justin Interisano with a pitch to start the 3rd inning.  Leftfielder Clayton Truex followed with a single, and Stocco singled again to score Interisano.  A single by Risquez drove in Truex and the Guelphs were off to a 5-1 lead midway through three.

The Leafs began the comeback with three straight singles off starter Mike Pembleton.  Waltenbury, Freeman, and third baseman Sean Mattson each singled, with Mattson driving in Waltenbury.  Leftfielder Raul Borjas hit a sac fly that allowed Freeman to score and it was 5-3 Royals after the 3rd inning.

The game turned for good in the bottom of the 4th.  Shortstop Ryan White singled and centerfielder Connor Lewis walked.  A game-tying double by Marra brought them both home.  Waltenbury was up next, and he hit a go-ahead home run that cleared the centerfield fence and hit the snack bar beyond it with enough force to crack the corner of it.  7-5 Leafs after the 4th inning.

Guelph made it interesting in the 5th.  Justin Cicatello, who had been pitching in relief of Mulholland since the 3rd, gave up a single to Stocco and then walked second baseman Blair Gignac.  Cicatello struck out the next two, but a single by McLaren brought in a run and made it 7-6 Toronto after five innings.

The Leafs put the game away for good in the bottom of the 6th.  Waltenbury singled, then Freeman hit a two-run home run.  Mattson followed with a solo blast that made it 10-6 for the home side after six.

Christian Botnick pitched a 1-2-3 7th to nail down the 10-6 final and the sweep of the doubleheader.


Guelph 6-12-1
Toronto 10-14-0

W - Cicatello (1-1, 5.22)
L - Pembleton (0-1, 17.18)

BOXSCORE


The Maple Leafs are now 9-7 and tied with the London Majors for 4th place in the standings, four games back of the Barrie Baycats.  Their next game is at these same Guelph Royals on Tuesday, June 23.

Waltenbury home run marker

Balls Crushed (Doubleheader Game 1)

Game 9 (rescheduled): Guelph Royals at Toronto Maple Leafs - June 21, 2015

Leafs win 11-5

The Toronto Maple Leafs went to town on Guelph pitching this afternoon, and won both games of a Father's Day doubleheader at Christie Pits.

In the first game, balls were crushed.  The Leafs banged out four home runs and 11 RBIs en route to an easy 11-5 win.  They jumped all over Royals starter Nathan Borges from the get go, scoring six runs in the first inning and never looking back.

It was a hot, festive day at the Pits.  There was a pre-game ceremony to acknowledge the fact that the Maple Leafs franchise won its 1000th game last week.  A Latino festival filled the park with music all afternoon, and Leafs bats were thumping too.

Raul Borjas (above) led the way with a home run and three RBIs.  Ryan White and Johnathan Solazzo also homered and drove in two runs apiece.  Jason Freeman joined the parade with a solo shot of his own.

Kyle Redinger made his first start for Toronto and went 5 innings for the win.

Late in the game, Royals manager Marc Sgrignoli met with the umpires and protested the game.  No details known at this time.  Don't want to speculate, but I'll update as info becomes available.


Game Recap:

To make up for a rainout from May, the Toronto Maple Leafs hosted the Guelph Royals for a Father's Day doubleheader at Christie Pits.

Kyle Redinger made his first start and looked completely the part of a dominant starter, with his flowing locks and his 1973 Nolan Ryan stirrups and the fantastically intense grimaces he made before, during and after each pitch.  Then the game started.  He gave up a leadoff single to centerfielder Santino Silvestri and an RBI double to leftfielder Jeff MacLeod and just like that, the Royals had a 1-0 lead.  Redinger would rebound after that and put in a solid start.  Seriously, Redinger was solid.  Ignore my sassy talk at the start of this paragraph.  It's probably heatstroke again. 

Redinger got by with more than a little help from his new friends.  The Leafs sent 10 men to the plate in the bottom of the first inning.  Rightfielder Connor Lewis drew a leadoff walk off Guelph starter Nathan Borges.  Second baseman Dan Marra drove Lewis in with a double.  That was followed by a double by DH Jon Waltenbury that scored Marra.  First baseman Jason Freeman reached first on an error and Waltenbury took third.  Third baseman Johnathan Solazzo singled and drove in Waltenbury.  Left fielder Raul Borjas was up next and he broke the game open with a three-run home run that landed somewhere in the middle of the Latino music festival on the other side of the park. 6-1 Leafs after one inning.

Redinger cruised through the next couple of innings, and the Leafs scored more runs in the bottom of the 3rd.  Catcher Brendan Keys was hit by a pitch from Bryce MacDonald-Wilson, who had relieved Borges in the 2nd inning.  Shortstop Ryan White then hit his first home run of the year and made it 8-1 Leafs after the 3rd inning.

Freeman hit a solo home run off Tylan Essery, who had relieved MacDonald-Wilson to start the 4th inning.  Essery then walked Solazzo, who promptly stole second base, and moved to third on a wild pitch to centerfielder Tyler Mitchell.  On the very next pitch, Mitchell drove in Solazzo with a double to make it 10-1 Leafs after the 4th inning.

The Royals scraped together two runs off of Redinger in the 5th inning.  Silvestri singled, rightfielder Chandler McLaren doubled, and Silvestri scored when MacLeod hit into a fielder's choice.  Catcher Justin Interisano then doubled to score McLaren and it was 10-3 Leafs after the 5th inning.

Newcomer Dave Ertl took the ball from Redinger to start the 6th inning.  He gave up a leadoff double to third baseman Patrick Coughlin, and an RBI double to shortstop Anthony Risquez, late of the Hamilton Cardinals.  A single by Silvestri -- his fourth hit of the game -- scored Risquez to make it 10-5 Leafs midway through the 6th inning.

Solazzo put one more on the board with a solo home run that made it 11-5 through six innings.

Adam Garner came on to pitch a scoreless 7th inning and lock down the win for Redinger in the first game of this doubleheader, with an 11-5 final.


Guelph 5-11-2
Toronto 11-10-1

W - Redinger (1-0, 7.04)
L - Borges (0-3, 13.11)

BOXSCORE


It took just over two hours for the Leafs to breeze to a win in the first game, and everyone took a 30 minute break before returning for game two.