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.
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