On the Christie Hillside: Bullpen Blues and Sunday Solace

Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - July 19 to 25, 2021

After losing a pair of heartbreakers, the Toronto Maple Leafs turned it around on Sunday

Marcus Knecht returned to the Maple Leafs on Sunday, and the home nine powered their way to victory.

In the leadup to the 2021 IBL season, the Toronto Maple Leafs assembled an all-star lineup of proven sluggers, OBP and RBI men.

Where they were still lacking, according to manager Damon Topolie, was pitching. With veteran starter Justin Cicatello stuck in the States because of international travel restrictions, and the bullpen still a work in progress, the pitching situation led to a couple of heartbreaks this week.

On Wednesday night, the Barrie Baycats' offence struck early, struck late, and the visitors hung on for dear life as another epic Christie comeback fell short by a run.

Saturday at Welland, it was the Leafs who hung on to a one-run lead before the Jackfish rallied for 4 late runs to take the win.

On Sunday, the Leafs offence was powered by home runs from Johnathan Solazzo, Marcus Knecht and Garrett Takamatsu, as they forged a win before the fans on the Christie hillsides.

As the IBL season approached the one-third post, no team looked to be running away with it, and the Leafs were within striking distance of first place...

Wednesday, July 21, 2021 - Barrie Baycats at Toronto Maple Leafs

Adam Marra did well to limit the Baycats to just one hit and one run over four innings. The rest of the Leafs' pitching was... not so good.

Game of the season, so far.

It began as a blowout, and ended as an almost historic comeback. When the lights finally dimmed over Christie Pits Wednesday night, the Leafs were on the losing end of a 20-19 epic.

After two innings of play, the visiting Barrie Baycats had made themselves at home, racking up eight runs off of starter Michael Asta.

Adam Marra came on in relief to start the 3rd inning, and he quieted things down. Marra pitched four innings, giving up just one hit and one run.

Meanwhile, the Leafs began clawing their way back into the game. As the Bushmen led the chanting of "No lead is safe," the home side scored four runs to make it a 9-4 game through six.

Unfortunately, Toronto's short bullpen fell short. Marra turned the ball over to Kyle Perrett, who was savaged for seven hits and ten runs, six earned. In just one inning, Barrie had blown the game up into a 19-4 laugher.

And yet, and yet. The Christie Mystique is always palpable. No lead is safe.

The Leafs scored four in the bottom of the 7th.

Johnathan Solazzo, a true two-way player this season, made his second relief appearance and surrendered one run in the top of the 8th.

The Leafs then scored 10 runs in the bottom of the 8th to make it a 20-18 game.

Solazzo held Barrie scoreless in the top of the 9th, giving the Leafs one last chance to forge a comeback for the ages. And they almost did it.

Sean Reilly hit his first home run of the season to bring the Leafs within one run, but the Baycats hung on by the tips of their claws. Brad Grieveson got through the inning to record the save and a 20-19 win for starter Juan Benitez.

Damon Topolie and Garrett Takamatsu both joined Reilly in hitting their first homers of the season, and Justin Marra hit his third. Takamatsu led the way with five RBIs. Reilly had four, Topolie, Grant Tamane, Jordan Castaldo, and Ryan Johnston each had two, and Marra's homer was a solo shot. With all that bashing the Leafs racked up 16 hits, but on this night 19 runs were not enough.

Barrie 20 19 3

Toronto 19 16 5

W - Benitez (2-0, 2.29)

L - Asta (0-1, 20.64)

S - Grieveson (1)

BOXSCORE

Saturday, July 24, 2021 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Welland Jackfish

The Leafs took a lead into the eighth inning, when heartbreak struck.
Image from Welland Jackfish YouTube

The Leafs were singing the bullpen blues again Saturday afternoon in Welland.

The hot bat of left fielder Garrett Takamatsu put the visitors ahead in the 1st inning, when he doubled to drive home Jordan Castaldo with the first run of the game. Takamatsu then smashed a solo home run in the third to make it 2-0.

The Jackfish got one back in the bottom of the 4th, but starter Andrew Hyde and reliever Matthias Trondson kept it a 2-1 ballgame through seven.

In the bottom of the 8th, the Jackfish got the jump on Trondson. They touched him for five hits and three runs before Kyle Perrett was called in from the bullpen. Perrett gave up one more hit and a run and when the Pond finally stilled the home side was ahead 5-2.

The Leafs were unable to put any more runs on the board, and suffered their second loss in a row.

Toronto 2 5 3

Welland 5 11 0

W - Cameron (1-0, 4.69)

L - Trondson (0-1, 9.81)

BOXSCORE

Sunday, July 11 - Welland Jackfish at Toronto Maple Leafs

Marek Deska pitched three solid innings of relief to earn the win against Welland on Sunday.

In the home end of a home-and-home series against the Welland Jackfish, the Maple Leafs relied on solid pitching and power hitting to emerge victorious.

According to the template early this season, the Leafs had to surrender a few runs early.

The Jackfish scored three runs in the first inning off of Sunday starter Mateos Kekatos.

The Leafs responded with three runs in the bottom of the first, courtesy of a three-run home run by third baseman and early contender for league MVP, Johnathan Solazzo.

Welland put runs up on the board in the 2nd and 4th innings to give themselves a 5-3 lead.

Things got wild and tight in the bottom of the 5th, courtesy of Welland starter Jake Polancic. Leadoff batter Grant Tamane was hit by a pitch right between the numbers. With one out, right fielder Marcus Knecht's jersey was grazed by a pitch. The next man up, starting catcher Garrett Takamatsu, also got plunked and just like that the bases were loaded. Solazzo was the next man up, and he hit into a fielder's choice that scored Tamane, making it a 5-4 game through five.

Marek Deska took over for Kekatos in the top of the 7th, and he gave up a solo home run to DH Matt Hilderbrandt, making it a 6-4 game.

In the bottom of the 7th, the Christie Mystique took over and put the Leafs ahead. Facing Welland reliever Will Jackman, Knecht led off the inning with a solo home run. The next man up, Takamatsu, hit his third home run in three games. Tie game. With two outs, center fielder Chandler McLaren was hit by a pitch, and he advanced to second on a walk to catcher Justin Marra. Shortstop Dan Marra then grounded to the shortstop, who made an error, allowing the brothers Marra to reach first and second safely as McLaren scored the go-ahead run. 7-6 Leafs after seven.

From there on in, it was Deska's game to win, and he pitched two scoreless inning to lock down the win for himself and for the Leafs, sending the Sunday afternoon Christie Pits crowd home happy with a victory.

Welland 6 12 2

Toronto 7 9 2

W - Deska (2-0, 2.57)

L - Jackman (0-1, 4.90)

BOXSCORE