On the Christie Hillside: This Country, These Pits

Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - June 20 to 26, 2022

Week 6 saw the Leafs take two out of three and climb to 3rd place in the IBL standings.

Former major leaguer Angel Castro made his Maple Leafs debut at Christie Pits on Sunday.

The Toronto Maple Leafs -- Canada's favourite ballclub -- have been on a roll.

Going into Sunday's contest at Christie Pits -- Canada's favourite ballpark -- the Leafs had won eight of their last ten games. This included wins on Friday in Hamilton and on Saturday at Welland against a Jackfish club that had swept them in May.

The big news this week was the arrival in Toronto of former Oakland Athletics pitcher Angel Castro.

"We needed a horse, so we're bringing in the horse," said Damon Topolie -- Canada's favourite player-manager -- before Sunday's home tilt against the Jackfish. "We're gonna let him out of the stable today and see what he does."

Castro's signing means there are now two former Major League pitchers on the Leafs roster, the other being ex-BoSox beast Dustin Richardson.

Perhaps the biggest news of all is that the Leafs roster is nowhere near final, with more additions slated to join the team before their playoff push begins in August.

Summer is in full swing and Maple Leafs baseball is a thrill ride that beckons irresistibly.

Friday, June 24, 2022 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Hamilton Cardinals

Damon Topolie crosses home plate after hitting his second home run of the season and putting the Leafs ahead for good at Bernie Arbour Stadium. (Image: IBLCardinalsBaseball YouTube)

Two aces, never in doubt.

After winning a come-from-behind walk off thriller on Sunday, the Maple Leafs rolled into Steeltown fully armed.

Marek Deska on the mound. Zach Sloan in the pen. Together, the Leafs aces combined to pitch eight innings, giving up just one hit and one run.

The boys in blue were never behind in this one. In the top of the 1st inning, shortstop Jose Vinicio singled and stole second, then scored the first run of the game on an RBI single by third baseman Johnathan Solazzo.

In the bottom of the 1st, Deska surrendered the one and only run that Hamilton would score on the night. Tyler Duncan doubled to drive home Cards leadoff man Justin Gideon, who had walked to start the frame. 1-1 ballgame through one.

The Leafs took the lead in the top of the 2nd and never looked back. Making a start as catcher, Luca Boscarino walked to lead things off, then stole second. Boscarino advanced to third on a bunt by centerfielder Connor Lewis. All this to set up a two-run homer by DH Damon Topolie to give the Leafs a 3-1 lead. Boom!

That remained the score until the 7th, when Toronto finally chased starter Chris Lazar. Right fielder Yusei Teraoka and Vinicio both singled, then advanced to 2nd and 3rd with a double steal. Teraoka went on to score on an error by Hamilton's catcher, and first baseman Jordan Castaldo drove Vinicio home with a single to make it 5-1 Leafs through seven.

Deska went the first five innings. Sloan relieved him with three scoreless. That left the 9th inning to Chris Nagorski, who had little trouble in putting this one to bed with a 5-1 FINAL and a win for Deska.

Toronto 5 9 2

Hamilton 1 2 3

W - Deska (2-0, 2.64)

L - Lazar (0-2, 4.19)

BOXSCORE

Saturday, June 25, 2022 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Welland Jackfish

Adam Marra earned his first save of the season as the Leafs beat the Jackfish at Welland Stadium. (Image: Welland Jackfish YouTube)

Faithful readers will recall the last time the Maple Leafs cast out looking to land some Jackfish.

It was the final weekend in May and the Leafs played a home-and-home series against Welland. It turned out to be a lost weekend as the team hit some rough waters. Their lines broke, their rods snapped and the boat overturned. Your heroes got swept.

The final weekend in June presented an opportunity to even the score, beginning Saturday night in Niagara.

This time it was Welland's Boatto that capsized and the Leafs landed a big win.

The Mapes on the mound dictated affairs. After the vets on Friday, it was the kids on Saturday. Starter Dylan Jacober gave up two runs over five innings en route to the win. Relievers Ryan Wells and Sam Greene combined to pitch three scoreless innings. Adam Marra slammed the door in the 9th.

Boatto remained on the mound for Welland to take the complete game loss.

All of the game's scoring took place in the 3rd inning. Shortstop Jose Vinicio reached first base on a fielder's choice, then came all the way around to score on an RBI single by catcher Justin Marra, thanks to some slow motion fielding by Welland. Marra moved to second when first baseman Jordan Castaldo drew a walk. Marra scored when third baseman Johnathan Solazzo ripped a ground rule double that bounced over the right field fence. With two men on and two out, left fielder Aidan McAskie clubbed a grounder right through the infield into center, scoring two runs and giving the Leafs a 4-0 lead.

The Jackfish battled back in the bottom of the 3rd. They touched Jacober for a single and a pair of doubles to put two runs on the board.

It was 4-2 after three innings, and that remained the score into the bottom of the 9th. Adam Marra retired the 'Fish in order to lock down his first save of the season, and Jacober's first dub in a Leafs uniform.

Toronto 4 5 0

Welland 2 7 3

W - Jacober (1-0, 3.60)

L - Boatto (0-2, 3.09)

S - A. Marra (1)

BOXSCORE

Sunday, June 26, 2022 - Welland Jackfish at Toronto Maple Leafs

On a sweltering Sunday afternoon, a seat in the shade and further back from the action felt like the best place to be.

This country, these Pits!

Not a game goes by without seeing something new at the legendary home of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

You might think it was the sight of a former Major League pitcher taking the mound for the Leafs.

As dawn broke on Sunday, social media was ablaze over a new signing for Toronto: former Oakland Athletics pitcher Angel Castro. No sooner had the signed contract been spat out of the fax machine than Castro's plane landed at Pearson and he was sped to the ballpark via Toronto police motorcade in time for his 2:00 pm debut.

But Castro is not even the first major leaguer to currently wear the famous V-neck. Closer Dustin Richardson is a former pitcher for the Boston Red Sox.

No, it was literally the bottom of the 9th when I spotted a bizarre sight on the Christie hillsides. A porta potty appeared to have been overturned and its progress down the northern slopes was halted by a single strand of caution tape.

Talk about metaphor.

Castro's debut was marred by an offensive onslaught by the visiting Welland Jackfish. Sloppy play in the infield (four errors) did not help, nor did the Leafs' cold bats. They didn't score until the 7th inning and by then it was too little too late. The Wellanders riled up the angry confines with a 14-2 win.

So a toppled plastic outhouse no doubt sloshing with, er, "sewage," or "effluent" (my people call it piss and shit) seemed the most fitting image of the day.

Let's forget this one and move on.

Welland 14 17 1

Toronto 2 9 4

W - Corrente (3-0, 4.50)

L - Castro (0-1, 11.25)

BOXSCORE