The Two Most Majestic Home Runs Ever Hit at Christie Pits

2022 IBL Championship Series - Game 4

September 18 - London Majors at Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs win 2-1, series tied 2-2

Justin Marra stands in against London ace Owen Boon at Christie Pits last night.  Marra hit his third home run in as many games and it was a game-winner.

It's getting less easy, this grind.

For players, coaches and fans alike, the longer this championship series goes, the more it challenges the concentration.  One's stamina, one's ability to juggle everything else in this life goes alongside the pursuit of the Dominico Cup.  Summer feels like ages ago, but the grind goes on.

Cracks have been appearing, nerves fraying.  On the field, slumps and mistakes are there for all to see.  Anything could change the course of the series now.  Everyone is sliding close to the edge, trying to keep their footing.

Consider this.  You'd think an ace performance by the London Majors' Owen Boon would have resulted in a win at Christie Pits last night.  But no.  Their ace got aced by an avenging Angel.

The Noisy Horse -- Castro of the Dominican Republic -- pitched his best game in a Toronto Maple Leafs uniform.  He gave up ten hits and three walks, but he also struck out eight and stranded 12.

Castro surrendered a run in the 1st inning, four batters into the game.  A double by Robert Mullen put a crooked number on the scoreboard for London.

The Majors did not score again.

A pitchers' duel commenced.  Two horses at the tops of their games, trading scoreless innings.  Each starter struck out eight.

The first time around, Boon breezed his way through the order.  The second time around, in the top of the 4th inning, the Leafs were ready.  Jordan Castaldo, with the patience of mountains and the eyes of an eagle, worked a 1-2 count and smashed a Boon pitch into the little league field beyond right.  The next man up, Justin Marra extended his championship series home run tear and deposited another Boon pitch in the same location.  Three Marra bombs in three games, and a 2-1 lead for the Leafs.  For the Christie faithful, Sunday night elevated into a state of rapture.

Talk about rapture.  I was lucky enough to be stood beside the right field fence when both home runs departed Dominico Field.  With mouth agape I followed their courses charting a perfect half circle on their way out, as if I was a kid seeing a home run for the first time.  Two of the most majestic home runs ever hit at Christie Pits.  Beautiful.  Magnificent.  In the coming months, in the dark and cold, those home runs will warm my black soul.

The duel continued through the 5th and into the 6th when a sudden flashpoint changed the course of the game.  With one on and one out, London batter Starling Joseph swung at strike three from Castro.  The pitch hit him but the home plate umpire immediately popped up and called him out.  Joseph protested vehemently.  London manager Roop Chanderdat sprinted onto the field and held Joseph back from the umpire.  

A conclave followed, with all four umps holding conference on the infield.  The call was upheld.  Joseph continued ranting from the bench and was tossed.  That brought Chanderdat back onto the field with a tirade of profanities audible to spectators surrounding the infield.  He too was ejected.

Action resumed, but the fight seemed to leave the Majors.  Boon was done after seven, having given up two runs on four hits.  Castro pitched into the 8th before Franklin Hernandez got the call from the pen.  As he has all this post-season, Hernandez put in a massive effort in the 8th and 9th innings.  He held the Londoners hitless, gave up a harmless walk, and sealed the 2-1 FINAL with a swinging strikeout.

A pitchers' duel might have been the last thing fans at the Pits were expecting, but the result could not have been more welcome.  Sunday night was alright. 

London 1 10 1

Toronto 2 4 0

W - Castro (3-1, 6.23)

L - Boon (2-1, 1.28)

S - Hernandez (5)

BOXSCORE

The series is tied at two games apiece.  The Mapes will make another attempt to break serve for a series lead on Tuesday night at Labatt Park.  Game Five's first pitch is at 7:35 pm.