Royals win 7-6
Royals lead series 2-1
The Toronto Maple Leafs fell just short of mounting another Christie Pits comeback on Sunday afternoon.
Instead, the Leafs dropped Game 3 of their quarterfinal series against the Guelph Royals by a score of 7-6. They battled to the final out after scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth, but the Royals took the game and the series lead.
A hot and breezy afternoon saw both clubs return to their big swinging ways, but some sloppy plays influenced the final outcome as both clubs combined for six errors.
Andrew Simonetti got the start on the mound for the Leafs, while the Royals countered with Edwin Javier -- their third straight Dominican import to start.
The Leafs grabbed an early lead after DH Garrett Takamatsu singled, then went first-to-third on a single by shortstop Aaron Hornostaj. Takamatsu dashed home on a wild pitch by Javier to give the home side a 1-0 lead after two innings.
Angel Villalona hit his second two-run homer of the series in the top of the third to give Guelph a 2-1 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, right fielder Marcus Knecht and left fielder Zac Orchard (above) hit back-to-back doubles to tie the game. Orchard also came around to score on an RBI single by Hornostaj. 3-2 Leafs through three.
The third inning ended on a strikeout by catcher Mike Reeves. Much in disgust, he slammed his bat near home plate. The plate umpire took umbrage and tossed Reeves from the game. Much in disgust times a thousand, Reeves let the ump know his thoughts on that decision. A quick defensive shuffle saw Justin Marra move in from first base to take Reeves' place. Orchard moved to first, and Grant Tamane entered the game in left field.
Simonetti pitched into the fifth before being relieved by Pedro De Los Santos, and the Royals retook the lead with a big inning. They sent nine men to the plate and tallied four runs off four hits and an error. Nick DaSilva came in to finish the inning as the Royals went ahead 6-3.
Guelph extended their lead in the top of the sixth. Jon Waltenbury cracked a double, and then Villalona drove in his third run of the game with a single to make it 7-3.
A couple of fielding errors allowed leadoff hitter Tamane to reach second base to start the bottom of the sixth. He moved to third on a sac bunt by second baseman Dan Marra, and scored on a groundout by Justin Marra.
Dustin Richardson pitched the seventh and eighth for Toronto, and struck out five Royals.
Jackson Jones and R.J. Page combined to pitch a scoreless ninth for the Mapes, setting up the club's last chance in the bottom of the inning. The long afternoon had been building up to this, and the Christie Crazies were ready to unleash some fury.
Javier walked Justin Marra and third baseman Johnathan Solazzo to start the inning, and was relieved by David Hatt. Knecht was up next, and he singled to drive in Marra. That dialed the volume at the Pits up to 11. Fans were on their feet and whipping up a racket. Hatt hung tough, and got Orchard to ground into a double play. A single by Takamatsu scored Solazzo and the dial went up to 12. Seeing his life flash before his eyes, Hatt delivered a pitch that Hornostaj hit high to center, but Guelph had a man there and Ethan Mohan caught the final out of the game.
The Maple Leafs have got a challenge before them now. A big challenge, but the Leafs are huge. They stride this earth like giants.
Orchard (.545) and Takamatsu (.455) have been batting up a storm this series, and the top of the order is due to start raging. Or else. Expect Game 4 to be the biggest battle yet.
Guelph 7-13-3
Toronto 6-10-3
W - Javier (1-0, 5.62)
L - Simonetti (0-1, 3.60)
S - Hatt (1)
BOXSCORE
NOTE: Eric Penkala and Cory Graham are providing live webcasts of each Leafs playoff game and archiving them on YouTube. The channel is Toronto Maple Leafs IBL Webcast.
Here's their complete coverage of Game 3.
Game 4 of this series will take place at Hastings Stadium in Guelph on Tuesday, August 14. First pitch is at 7:30 pm.
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