QF Game 3: Brantford Red Sox at Toronto Maple Leafs - August 7, 2016
Red Sox win 16-6
Red Sox win 16-6
The Brantford Red Sox trotted in from the field after the bottom of the fourth and prepared to go to bat.
"Let's go, let's get more," they urged each other.
The score at that point was 6-2 in their favour.
"Let's get more."
Most of the Red Sox remembered what had happened to them at Christie Pits during last year's quarterfinals. In Game 4, the Toronto Maple Leafs came all the way back from a 12-0 deficit to defeat them, and then they went on to win the series and eliminate Brantford.
"Let's get more."
For the Red Sox, it wasn't just bench banter, it was a subtle reminder. They were all too aware of the Christie Mystique, something that could strike at any time and blow a game apart, leaving a visiting team looking through their empty fingers wondering what might have been.
"Let's get more."
The Red Sox heeded their own words. They went to bat like a bunch of angry ex-boyfriends, scored 10 more runs and put today's game out of reach. Final score: 16-6 for the visitors.
Toronto's six runs were driven in by Johnathan Solazzo (2), Jon Waltenbury (2) and Sean Mattson (2). The club's four big beasts (including Justin Marra) combined for nine hits on the day.
Unfortunately, the Leafs were let down by their pitching today. Sixteen runs on 17 hits will not win you most games, and it was too much to overcome.
Game Recap:
It was another spectacularly sunny day at Christie Pits as the Toronto Maple Leafs hosted the Brantford Red Sox for Game 3 of their quarterfinal series. Marek Deska took to the mound against his opposite, the mysterious enigma Jonathan Joseph.
The pitching matchup was a contrast of styles between the compact bulldog Deska and the flamboyant toreador Joseph. The starters traded scoreless innings in the first.
Toronto got on the board first, courtesy of a two-run home run by DH Johnathan Solazzo in the bottom of the 2nd.
Brantford punched back in the top of the 3rd, as shortstop Brandon Dailey led off the inning with a solo home run. That was followed by a double by rightfielder Jeff Hunt, and another double by second baseman Benjamin Bostick that cashed in Hunt. Bostick advanced to third on a groundout, then scored on a single by third baseman Tyler Patzalek. 3-2 Red Sox after three innings of play.
Red Sox first baseman Nic Burdett led off the top of the 4th with a double off of Deska, who got the next two batters out. That brought Hunt back to the plate and he singled, driving in Burdett. Deska hit Bostick with a pitch next. That brought centerfielder Chris Dennis to the plate, and he drove in both Hunt and Bostick with a single. David Ertl relieved Deska to finish the inning, but it was now 6-2 Red Sox after the 4th.
The visitors broke the game open with four more runs in the 5th. Nate Morris took to the mound for Toronto. He gave up a single to his first batter faced, leftfielder Josh McCurdy. After a flyball out, Morris walked Burdett. The next man up was DH Nate DeSouza, who hit into a fielder's choice. McCurdy was out at third, leaving men at first and second. A walk to Dailey loaded the bases. A walk to Hunt allowed Burdett to trot home. Bostick then cleared the bases with a triple, making it a 10-2 score in favour of Brantford midway through the 5th.
Toronto immediately rallied. Rightfielder Brendan Keys doubled, centerfielder Connor Lewis singled, and leftfielder Grant Tamane was hit by a pitch from Joseph. Bases loaded. First baseman Jon Waltenbury rapped a two-run single that plated Keys and Lewis. Catcher Justin Marra followed with a double that drove in Tamane. It was now 10-5 Red Sox after the 5th.
Adam Garner relieved Morris and pitched a scoreless top of the 6th.
Jose Vasquez relieved Joseph and pitched a scoreless bottom of the 6th.
In the top of the 7th, Dailey hit a solo home run to make it 11-5 Red Sox.
In the bottom of the 7th, Waltenbury doubled, and then scored on a single by Justin Marra. 11-6 Red Sox through seven.
Brantford piled it on in the 8th. Garner hit Patzalek with a pitch, and then McCurdy doubled. That brought catcher Ricky Murray to the plate, and he belted a three-run homer. Burdett singled next, and then Dailey hit his third home run of the game to make it 16-6 for the visitors.
Adam Marra finished off the game for Toronto, pitching the final inning plus, but the Leafs were unable to mount a miracle comeback on this day. Vasquez closed out a scoreless 9th for a 16-6 FINAL and a Brantford win.
It was another spectacularly sunny day at Christie Pits as the Toronto Maple Leafs hosted the Brantford Red Sox for Game 3 of their quarterfinal series. Marek Deska took to the mound against his opposite, the mysterious enigma Jonathan Joseph.
The pitching matchup was a contrast of styles between the compact bulldog Deska and the flamboyant toreador Joseph. The starters traded scoreless innings in the first.
Toronto got on the board first, courtesy of a two-run home run by DH Johnathan Solazzo in the bottom of the 2nd.
Brantford punched back in the top of the 3rd, as shortstop Brandon Dailey led off the inning with a solo home run. That was followed by a double by rightfielder Jeff Hunt, and another double by second baseman Benjamin Bostick that cashed in Hunt. Bostick advanced to third on a groundout, then scored on a single by third baseman Tyler Patzalek. 3-2 Red Sox after three innings of play.
Red Sox first baseman Nic Burdett led off the top of the 4th with a double off of Deska, who got the next two batters out. That brought Hunt back to the plate and he singled, driving in Burdett. Deska hit Bostick with a pitch next. That brought centerfielder Chris Dennis to the plate, and he drove in both Hunt and Bostick with a single. David Ertl relieved Deska to finish the inning, but it was now 6-2 Red Sox after the 4th.
The visitors broke the game open with four more runs in the 5th. Nate Morris took to the mound for Toronto. He gave up a single to his first batter faced, leftfielder Josh McCurdy. After a flyball out, Morris walked Burdett. The next man up was DH Nate DeSouza, who hit into a fielder's choice. McCurdy was out at third, leaving men at first and second. A walk to Dailey loaded the bases. A walk to Hunt allowed Burdett to trot home. Bostick then cleared the bases with a triple, making it a 10-2 score in favour of Brantford midway through the 5th.
Toronto immediately rallied. Rightfielder Brendan Keys doubled, centerfielder Connor Lewis singled, and leftfielder Grant Tamane was hit by a pitch from Joseph. Bases loaded. First baseman Jon Waltenbury rapped a two-run single that plated Keys and Lewis. Catcher Justin Marra followed with a double that drove in Tamane. It was now 10-5 Red Sox after the 5th.
Adam Garner relieved Morris and pitched a scoreless top of the 6th.
Jose Vasquez relieved Joseph and pitched a scoreless bottom of the 6th.
In the top of the 7th, Dailey hit a solo home run to make it 11-5 Red Sox.
In the bottom of the 7th, Waltenbury doubled, and then scored on a single by Justin Marra. 11-6 Red Sox through seven.
Brantford piled it on in the 8th. Garner hit Patzalek with a pitch, and then McCurdy doubled. That brought catcher Ricky Murray to the plate, and he belted a three-run homer. Burdett singled next, and then Dailey hit his third home run of the game to make it 16-6 for the visitors.
Adam Marra finished off the game for Toronto, pitching the final inning plus, but the Leafs were unable to mount a miracle comeback on this day. Vasquez closed out a scoreless 9th for a 16-6 FINAL and a Brantford win.
Brantford 16-17-0
Toronto 6-13-2
W - Joseph (1-0, 9.00)
L - Deska (1-1, 11.57)
The Red Sox take a 2-1 series lead back to Brantford, where games 4 and 5 of this series will be played, starting with Game 4 on Wednesday night, August 10th. The Leafs will be looking to force at least a sixth game, which would be played back at Christie Pits. Let's make it happen you maniacs!
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