2021 IBL Quarterfinals - Game 2, September 10 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Hamilton Cardinals
Leafs win 8-2, and win the series 2-0
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| Justin Cicatello dominated Hamilton Cardinals batters on Friday night, giving up just two hits over seven shutout innings. |
The QEW Series is over, and the Toronto Maple Leafs swept it.
The Hamilton Cardinals were swatted aside after two games in which the Leafs dominated all facets of play.
After suffering a 21-6 blowout in the series opener, the Cardinals never recovered.
Facing elimination Friday night at Bernie Arbour Stadium, the home side took the field without manager Dean Castelli, who had been ejected from Game 1 at Christie Pits. It was his second ejection of the season, earning an automatic one-game suspension.
The Cardinals looked shaky from the opening inning. Starter Chris Lazar and catcher Jeremie Veilleux seemed not to be on the same page. Poor fielding and two errors led to two Leafs runs early on.
In the top of the 2nd, Leafs right fielder Marcus Knecht doubled and then scored on an error.
In the top of the 4th, Leafs third baseman Johnathan Solazzo singled and scored on an error. A sacrifice fly by catcher Justin Marra brought home brother Dan and the Leafs enjoyed a 3-0 lead through four innings.
Justin Marra added to the Toronto lead with a solo home run in the top of the 6th.
In the top of the 7th, center fielder Connor Lewis hit an RBI single to bring Dan Marra across the plate again, giving the Leafs a 5-0 lead after seven innings.
Through it all, Leafs starter Justin Cicatello kept Cardinals batters tightly caged. Cicatello pitched seven shutout innings, giving up just two hits while striking out three. It was a dominant performance by the American who returned to the Leafs lineup just in the Cic of time.*
Mateos Kekatos relieved Cicatello for the 8th. He gave up a two-run home run to Cardinals center fielder Justin Gideon. That would be the only sign of life from the Hamilton lineup on this night. If the Cardinals were able to field nine Justin Gideons, they would never lose a game. Fortunately for the Leafs, only one Justin Gideon exists on this plane of space-time.
With two out in the bottom of the 8th, manager Damon Topolie called on closer Dustin Richardson. The towering lefty recorded the final four outs with ease, striking out three Cardinals to lock down an 8-2 final and a series sweep.
Throughout the game a group of throaty fans in the visitors' stands voiced their approval of the Leafs' success. With a spot in the semi-finals clinched, the Maple Leaf caravan roared back up the QEW to await the news of their next opponents.
* No more hokey nameplay, I promise.
W - Cicatello (1-0, 0.00)
L - Lazar (0-1, 6.43)
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