Leafs win 7-4
The London Majors' plans for a short, dignified procession to the championship were sabotaged last night by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Leafs took advantage of a bullpen implosion to score four runs in the eighth inning and make off with a 7-4 victory at Labatt Memorial Park.
This semifinal series is now two games to one in London's favour.
The boys in triple blue were a constant presence on the basepaths. They used speed and moxie to seize any and all opportunities to cross home plate. They showed great patience too, chalking up eight walks on the night.
Jon Waltenbury led the assault with three hits and four RBIs. Connor Lewis walked thrice, scored twice, and drove in a run. Johnathan Solazzo's powerful new stirrups earned an RBI just because they freakin could.
On the mound, the all-American tandem of Justin Cicatello and Mike Wagner pitched six and three innings respectively. Cicatello gave up four runs (two earned) while striking out two, while Wagner shut the Majors out over the final three innings for the win.
So this dreary deathmarch suddenly comes to life, thanks to those scrappy rascals reppin' the Six. Listen all y'all it's a sabotage.
Game Recap:
Game 3 of the semifinal between the Toronto Maple Leafs and London Majors took place on a sunny evening at Labatt Memorial Park. The starting pitchers were Cory Hammond for London versus Justin Cicatello for Toronto.
Both starters pitched a scoreless first inning.
Cicatello hit centerfielder Byron Reichstein with a pitch to start the bottom of the 2nd. Reichstein moved to third on a grounder by Cleveland Brownlee that slipped past shorstop Ryan White for an error. Catcher Michael Ambrose then hit into a double play allowing Reichstein to cross home plate. 1-0 Majors after two innings of play.
The Mapes punched right back in the top of the 3rd. Centerfielder Connor Lewis drew a one-out walk, then stole second. He advance to third on a single by leftfielder Grant Tamane. First baseman Jon Waltenbury drove both runners in with a single that made it 2-1 in favour of the Leafs after three innings.
Hammond and Cicatello both retired the side in their halfs of the 4th.
London retook the lead in the bottom of the 5th. Brownlee led off with a single, but was rubbed out at second on a fielder's choice by Ambrose. With one out, rightfielder LeJon Baker was hit by a pitch. DH Kyle Gormandy then slapped a single to left. Tamane got the ball and threw for home, but it careened all the way to the backstop near the first base dugout, allowing two runs to score. Catcher Justin Marra was charged with an error on the play. Gormandy landed on second base on the play, then moved to third on a passed ball. Third baseman Carlos Arteaga then hit a sac fly to bring in Gormandy and give the Majors a 4-2 lead through five.
After a scoreless 6th, the Leafs got a run back in the top of the 7th. Lewis drew another walk from Hammond and then moved to second on a passed ball. Waltenbury hit an RBI single to score Lewis and make it a one-run ballgame, 4-3 after seven.
Hammond was relieved by Braeden Ferrington to start the top of the 8th, and the Leafs pounced. Patiently. It started with DH Sean Mattson drawing a walk. He moved to second on another passed ball, then scored on a roaring double by third baseman Johnathan Solazzo. That brought a quick end to Ferrington's night as Owen Boon replaced him on the mound. Birthday boy White was up next and he hit a single, moving Solazzo to third. Second baseman Dan Marra then hit one to shortstop Keith Kandel, who threw home in time for Ambrose to tag Solazzo out in a collision at the plate. With White on second and Marra on first, rightfielder Brendan Keys walked to load the bases. With Lewis at the plate, Boon uncorked a wild pitch that allowed White and Marra to score. Lewis ended up grounding out, leaving Keys at third. Tamane walked next, bringing Waltenbury back to the plate. Smelling more RBIs, Wally blasted a pitch to deep center, where it bounced short of the fence and over for a ground rule double. Keys scored on the play and the Leafs jumped ahead 7-4.
The middle of the 8th inning saw a skunk appear in right-center. The skunk ambled along the outfield fence for a minute or so before disappearing again. Lewis may have been thinking about the critter behind him when Kandel hit a high flyball to center. The ball fell and by the time it got back in, Kandel had raced around to third base. Wagner stranded him there, however, and the Leafs still led 7-4 going into the 9th.
The Leafs went down 1-2-3 in the top of the inning.
Ambrose drew a walk to start the bottom of the 9th. Baker then hit into a double play and the Majors were down to their final out. Pinch hitter Tristan Buntrock singled and Arteaga drew a walk, but Wagner struck out pinch hitter Brett Sabourin to end the inning and lock down a 7-4 FINAL for Toronto.
Toronto 7-8-2
London 4-7-0
W - Wagner (3-0, 1.89)
L - Boon (1-1, 6.42)
BOXSCORE
There is no let up to this series. It continues later this evening with Game 4 back at Christie Pits.
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