Semi-Final Game 4: Leafs Win the Weekend and Tie the Series

Semi-Finals: Barrie Baycats at Toronto Maple Leafs - August 16, 2015

Leafs win 8-6

It's a best-of-three now, boys.

The Toronto Maple Leafs capped off a successful weekend of playoff baseball by winning their second straight game against the Barrie Baycats this afternoon, evening up their semi-final series at 2-2.

Leafs starter Justin Lawrence (above) got some well-deserved run support for a well-deserved win in a sweltering Christie Pits.  Lawrence the quiet workhorse - a revelation in this postseason - went six innings in the midst of a Toronto Heat Alert, giving up just two runs on seven hits, while striking out five.

Marek Deska carried a Leafs lead through the late innings before turning it over to closer Christian Botnick, who slammed the door in the 9th for the save and a Leafs win.

After stranding six runners on base in the first three innings, the Leafs' revved up the horsepower to score eight runs in front of a delighted crowd and the Rogers TV cameras, beaming the game nationwide.*

Johnathan Solazzo led the way with a home run and two RBIs.  Brendan Keys also drove in a pair, and Tyler Mitchell, Connor Lewis and Grant Tamane drove in one run each.

The Baycats rallied late and came within one run of tying it in the 8th inning, but they fell just short on this day.

As the Leafs re-write the script to this postseason, they are surprising more and more observers.  Eyebrows are being raised.  For the second straight series, they are in the thick of it, and with game five coming up in Barrie on Tuesday night, they will have a chance to take control of this semi-final.

*Possible exaggeration.


Game Recap:

Humidity soared into the mid-thirties this afternoon as the Toronto Maple Leafs hosted the Barrie Baycats at Christie Pits for game four of their semi-final series.  On the mound were Justin Lawrence and Adam Rowe.

Looking to get an early jump on things, the Baycats loaded the bases in the top of the first inning, but Lawrence got a strikeout to end the threat.

Both starters threw scoreless innings until the top of the third, when Barrie broke the ice.  First baseman Jordan Castaldo doubled to lead off.  This was followed by an RBI single by third baseman Kevin Atkinson (Castaldo scored), a single by leftfielder Steve Lewis, and an RBI single by DH Jeremy Walker (Atkinson scored).  2-0 Baycats through three innings.

The Leafs stranded six men on base in the first three innings, but finally got on the board in the bottom of the 4th.  Centerfielder Tyler Mitchell led off with a single off Rowe.  He advanced to second on a sac bunt by catcher Brendan Keys, then scored on a single by shortstop Connor Lewis.  2-1 Barrie after the 4th inning.

Toronto took the lead in the 5th.  Second baseman Dan Marra singled to lead off.  First baseman Jon Waltenbury walked, then a single by leftfielder Raul Borjas loaded the bases.  After DH Will Richards struck out, Mitchell delivered an RBI single that scored Marra.  Keys followed that with a single that drove in both Waltenbury and Borjas.  4-2 Leafs through five.

Rightfielder Grant Tamane reached first on an error to start the bottom of the 6th.  Third baseman Johnathan Solazzo then belted a two-run home run to make it a 6-2 game for the Leafs through six.

Marek Deska took over on the mound to start the 7th, and he pitched a scoreless top half of the inning.

Brad Bissell relieved Rowe in the bottom half of the inning, and got into trouble right away.  He walked Richards, gave up a single to Mitchell, and walked Keys to load the bases.  After a wild pitch saw Richards tagged out at home, Bissell walked Lewis to reload the bases.  Then, he struck Tamane with a pitch and Mitchell advanced to home with a bonus run.  7-2 Leafs through seven.

Barrie rallied in the 8th, even though Deska recorded a quick two outs to start the inning.  Jackson reached first on an error by Solazzo.  Then DeGrace and Castaldo singled, with Jackson scoring on Castaldo's hit.  With two men on, Atkinson stepped up to the plate and crushed one over the left field fence.  The home run made it a one-run ballgame, and Deska escaped the inning with a 7-6 score.

Toronto got some insurance in the bottom of the 8th.  Chris Nagorski relieved Bissell.  He gave up a single to Solazzo, who advanced to second on a putout by Borjas.  Damon Topolie pinch hit for Richards (who had injured his hand on the play at the plate in the previous inning).  On an 0-2 count, Topolie hit one to shortstop Branfy Arias, whose throw to first eluded Castaldo.  "Tops" was safe at first and Solazzo scored to pad Toronto's lead 8-6 through eight.

Christian Botnick came in to pitch the ninth, and he nailed down a 1-2-3 inning to preserve the 8-6 win for Toronto.  Lawrence got the win and Botnick got the save.


Barrie 6-11-4
Toronto 8-13-3

W - Lawrence (1-2, 2.86)
L - Rowe (2-1, 2.04)
S - Botnick (1)

BOXSCORE


This semi-final series is now tied 2-2.  The Maple Leafs travel to Coates Stadium for game five this Tuesday night, August 18.

Semi-Final Game 3: Wally and Cic Make it Quick

Semi-Finals: Toronto Maple Leafs at Barrie Baycats - August 15, 2015

Leafs win 4-2

It was just what the doctor ordered.

A three-run bomb by Jon Waltenbury and a complete game gem by Justin Cicatello lifted the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 4-2 win in game three of their semi-final series against the Barrie Baycats last night.

Waltenbury's blast came just eight pitches into the game, but it turned out to be the game-winner.  Cicatello's 118-pitch performance saw him give up just five hits and two runs in a game that wrapped up in two hours and six minutes.  In short, "Wally" and "Cic" made it quick.

On the Baycats' side of the mound, Brett Lawson overcame his rough first inning to give up just one more hit through eight, while Chris Nagorski struck out the side in the ninth.  Unlike game one of this contest - which was decided in the ninth inning in Barrie's favour - this one was decided in the first, with the Leafs making a series of it.

After taking a walk and grabbing two stolen bases, Waltenbury scored an insurance run in the third on a single by Raul Borjas.

Barrie threatened to get back into the game in the fifth, when two of its fleetest footsmen got aboard, but Branfy Arias and Glenn Jackson both found themselves getting caught between bases, and getting tagged out by Johnathan Solazzo.

The pattern of this series so far has been super-tight pitching duels in Barrie, and a slugfest in Toronto.  If the pattern holds, the ball chasers at Christie Pits might be getting a hell of a workout this afternoon.  The weather forecast says it will go up to 32 degrees today, so here's hoping everyone remembers to stay well hydrated.


Game Recap:

The Barrie Baycats welcomed the Toronto Maple Leafs to Coates Stadium last night for game three of their semi-final series.  Brett Lawson and Justin Cicatello were the starting pitchers for their respective sides.

The Leafs got the jump on Lawson right away, as rightfielder Grant Tamane and second baseman Dan Marra hit a pair of singles.  First baseman Jon Waltenbury then stepped up to the plate and crushed an 0-2 pitch over the fence in centerfield, giving the Leafs a 3-0 lead after one inning.

In the top of the 3rd, the Leafs tacked on another run.  Waltenbury walked with two outs, stole second, stole third, then scored on an RBI-single by leftfielder Raul Borjas.  4-0 Leafs midway through three.

The Baycats collected their first hit off Cicatello in the bottom of the third, as shortstop Branfy Arias led off with a double.  A sac bunt by centerfielder Glenn Jackson moved Arias to third.  Rightfielder Ryan Spataro then hit into a groundout that allowed Arias to score.  4-1 Leafs after the 3rd inning.

Both pitchers kept rolling through the order until the bottom of the 5th when Cicatello had a brief wobble.  Arias led off with a single.  While Jackson was at the plate, Arias stole second and advanced to third when the throw from catcher Will Richards sailed high.  Jackson then hit into a fielder's choice, but Arias got caught between third and home.  Third baseman Johnathan Solazzo tagged him out, while Jackson made it to second base.  Jackson was then caught stealing third and Solazzo tagged out his second baserunner of the inning.  With the bases clear, Spataro hit a single, then came all the way around to score on a single to deep right by catcher Kyle DeGrace.  4-2 Leafs after the 5th inning.

That was it for the bats this night.  Lawson kept the Leafs off the board in the 6th, 7th and 8th before turning it over to Chris Nagorski who pitched a perfect 9th.  Cicatello went the distance.  After the 5th inning, he was perfect the rest of the way, shutting down the potent Barrie offence and recording his second complete game victory of the postseason with a 4-2 final.


Toronto 4-4-2
Barrie 2-5-0

W - Cicatello (2-0, 4.90)
L - Lawson (1-1, 6.07)

BOXSCORE


Barrie now holds a 2-1 series lead and these two clubs will go at it in game four this afternoon at Christie Pits.

Semi-Final Game 2: 'Cats Take Two

Semi-Finals: Barrie Baycats at Toronto Maple Leafs - August 12, 2015

Baycats win 18-8

Midway through game two of the semi-final series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Barrie Baycats, the Christie Pits scoreboard beamed out a doleful pair of digits.

Thirteen, for the number of runs the visitors had already scored.

Zero, for the number of runs plated by the home nine.

Brutal.  Horrendous.  A real 'Cats-tastrophe.

The Baycats had pounced on starter Brett Van Pelt, mauling him for eleven runs on nine hits.  Only four of the runs were earned, as the Leafs' defence had committed five errors behind their starter.  Van Pelt was driven from the game in the third inning, leaving the ball in the hands of reliever Kyle Redinger.

Despite the score, no one believed the game was out of reach yet.  As the fine folke of Brantford will attest, no lead is safe at the Pits.

Just a week earlier, the Leafs had stunned the baseball world by coming back from a 12-0 deficit to win.  As the sun set last night, fans on the Christie hillside wondered: could they pull it off again?  They wouldn't be wackos for asking.  The Playoff Leafs have demonstrated resiliency, team effort and high octane horsepower, racking up the runs when they needed to.

The Mapes had a go of it, scoring a couple of runs in the 5th inning and then rallying for six more in the bottom of the 7th.  Raul Borjas, Will Richards and Tyler Mitchell each drove in a pair, and Johnathan Solazzo added another.

But Barrie didn't crumble.  They tacked on some more runs of their own, and pitcher Brad Bissell shut the Leafs down in the later innings to preserve an 18-8 victory for the Baycats, who take a 2-0 series lead.

For the Leafs, the drama and heroics would have to wait for another night.  There's still a lot of series left to play.


Game Recap:

The Toronto Maple Leafs hosted the Barrie Baycats at Christie Pits, for game two of their 2015 semi-final series.  On the mound were Brett Van Pelt for Toronto, and Santos Arias for the visitors.

Barrie wasted no time in getting on the board, as rightfielder Ryan Spataro led off the first inning with a home run for a 1-0 Baycats lead.

The Baycats turned it on in the bottom of the 2nd inning, sending 11 men to the plate.  Leftfielder Steve Lewis led off with a single, and second baseman reached base on an error.  Both runners advanced on a groundout hit by shortstop Branfy Arias, then a walk to centerfielder Glenn Jackson loaded the bases.  Spataro then reached first on an error that allowed Cowan and Lewis to score.  Catcher Kyle DeGrace (above) was up next, and he belted a home run, his second in two games.  First baseman Jordan Castaldo and third baseman Kevin Atkinson both singled, and Castaldo came around to score when Toronto's infield committed its third error of the inning.  7-0 Baycats after two.

The scoring attack continued into the third.  Cowan reached first on an error to leadoff, then Branfy singled.  A single by Jackson scored Cowan.  A double by Spataro scored Arias.  Jackson scored on a wild pitch, then Spataro scored on a single by DeGrace.  After walking Castaldo, Van Pelt's night was over and Kyle Redinger came in to pitch.  He got the next two batters out to end the inning, but it was now 11-0 Barrie after the 3rd inning.

Toronto loaded the bases in the bottom of the 3rd, but Santos got out of the jam unscathed.

A double by Jackson in the top of the 4th put two more runs on the board for Barrie, giving them a 13-0 lead.

In the bottom of the 5th, second baseman Dan Marra, first baseman Jon Waltenbury, and third baseman Johnathan Solazzo hit three straight singles, with Marra scoring on Solazzo's shot.  A single by leftfielder Raul Borjas drove Waltenbury in and the Leafs were finally on the board, but down 13-2 after five innings.

A two-run home run by Branfy in the top of the 6th extended Barrie's lead to 15-2.

The Leafs went down in order in the bottom of the 6th, but that was the end of the road for Santos, who was relieved by Chris England to start the 7th.  It was like night and day for the Leafs, who swarmed all over him.  A single by Marra, a walk to Waltenbury, and a hit-by-pitch for Solazzo immediately loaded the bases.  A single by Borjas plated Marra.  A single by Richards plated Waltenbury and Solazzo.  A roaring triple by centerfielder Tyler Mitchell drove in Borjas and Richards.  Without recording an out, England was relieved by Brad Bissell.  Facing catcher Brendan Keys, Bissell hurled a wild pitch and Mitchell raced home to score.  The Baycats escaped with no further damage, but their lead was now 15-8 through seven.

In the top of the 8th, Christian Botnick relieved Redinger on the mound.  Jackson hit his second double of the night and drove in a run.  He then scored on a single by Spataro, which left Spataro a triple shy of the cycle.  17-8 Barrie after eight.

The visitors added one more run in the top of the 9th, when DH Jeremy Walker hit a single that scored Castaldo, making it 18-8.

Unfortunately for the Leafs, they were held to just two walks and a single over the final two innings.  They stranded 12 men on base in this game, and there would be no miracle comeback at the Pits on this night.


Barrie 18-17-1
Toronto 8-11-6

W - S. Arias (2-0, 0.60)
L - Van Pelt (1-1, 6.75)

BOXSCORE


After losing the first two games of this series, the Leafs will have a chance to get right back into it in game three on Saturday night, August 15 in Barrie.