Leafs win 12-2
A free-swinging, bomb-jacking, run-scoring, stingy-pitching, near-perfect Toronto Maple Leafs team kicked off its 2015 playoff campaign with a rip-roaring win in Brantford last night.
We looked on, shocked and awed by the display. These are the Leafs who looked amazing on paper back in April, but who couldn't always translate that potential into wins as the season unfolded.
If they have clicked, they clicked at the right time.
Feels like we've watched Justin Cicatello (above) pitch about 17 complete games - this year alone. "Cic" wound up his rubber arm for another gem. He pitched the full nine, requiring an efficient 94 pitches to shut down the Red Sox. He gave up two earned runs and struck out five while further cementing his status as a cult hero back at the Pits.
Cicatello was matched up against Bell City ace Jamie Richmond. The Leafs got to him early and often, hitting him up for seven runs (three earned) and knocking him out of the game after just three innings.
Will Richards struck first for the Leafs with a solo home run in the 2nd inning.
In the 3rd, the Leafs unleashed the patented One Big Inning to blow the game open 7-0 and end the Red Sox's night before it began. The highlight of the inning was Damon Topolie's bases-clearing 3-RBI double.
The Leafs got two RBIs each on the night from Richards, Johnathan Solazzo and Tyler Mitchell, and Jon Waltenbury drove in one.
Cicatello kept the home side at bay until the 7th inning when they finally put two runs on the board, but this one was never in doubt. The V-necks tacked on more runs late en route to a 12-2 final.
The result sets a positive tone for the Leafs as this series gets under way. That's great and all, but nothing more. In game one of the 1959 World Series, the Chicago White Sox destroyed the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-0. The Dodgers went on to win the series in six games.
Game Recap:
A packed house at Arnold Anderson Stadium welcomed the Toronto Maple Leafs for game one of their quarterfinal series against the Brantford Red Sox. The pitching matchup was ace Jamie Richmond for the home side against Justin Cicatello for the Leafs.
After a scoreless first inning, the Leafs got on the board in the second, courtesy of a solo home run by catcher Will Richards. 1-0 Leafs after two.
The atmosphere at the ballpark was punctured like a balloon in the third inning, when the Leafs went to town on Richmond, sending 10 men to the plate and scoring six runs. Leftfielder Brendan Keys led off with a single and rightfielder Grant Tamane followed with a single of his own. Second baseman Dan Marra reached on a fielder's choice that eliminated Keys from the basepaths. First baseman Jon Waltenbury then singled to score Tamane. Third baseman Johnathan Solazzo followed with a single to score Marra. Richards reached safely on an error as Waltenbury scored. Centerfielder Tyler Mitchell drew a walk to load the bases. DH Damon Topolie then rocked Richmond for a double to clear the bags and give the Leafs a 7-0 lead after three innings.
Matt Martinow relieved Richmond to start the 4th inning, but the Leafs kept on scoring. Marra singled, advanced to second on a walk to Waltenbury, then scored on a double by Solazzo. 8-0 Leafs through four innings. Local fans who had been clucking with anticipation at the start of the game cast their eyes to the darkening sky above. Menacing black clouds rolled slowly over the park and some raindrops fell for a few minutes, but nowhere near enough to make a rainout possible.
Martinow was relieved in the top of the 7th by Casey Howard. He retired the first two batters he faced, then walked Richards. Mitchell was up next, and he blasted a two-run homer to make it 10-0 Leafs midway through the 7th inning.
Benjamin Bostick led off the bottom of the 7th with a single, and scored on a double by Brandon Dailey. A single by Nic Burdett drove in Dailey, making it 10-2 Leafs through seven.
Another pitching substitution for Brantford in the top of the 9th, as Riley Barr relieved Howard. Barr gave up a single to Marra and a double to Waltenbury. A wild pitch brought Marra in to score, and Waltenbury also came in on a putout by Solazzo. 12-2 Leafs midway through the 9th. Cicatello pitched a scoreless bottom of the inning to seal the game one win for Toronto.
Toronto 12-12-0
Brantford 2-9-1
W - Cicatello (1-0, 2.00)
L - Richmond (0-1, 9.00)
BOXSCORE
The Maple Leafs take a 1-0 lead in the series. Game two will be Sunday, August 2 at Christie Pits.
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