Leafs win 16-15 (10 innings)
Twelve runs.
Midway through game four of their quarterfinal series against the Brantford Red Sox, the Toronto Maple Leafs were losing by twelve runs. The score was 12-0, to be exact.
Down 2-1 in the series, the Red Sox had come out swinging, pounding starter Justin Cicatello for seven runs in the first inning alone. They piled on five more off of Cicatello and reliever Kyle Redinger, and as the Leafs went to bat in the bottom of the 5th, this game was done. Finished. Kaput. Brantford was about to tie the series and head home with a full head of steam. Toronto's playoff run had hit a wall.
Then the comeback started.
Three runs in the 5th. A run in the 7th. Six crayzee runs in the 8th. As the amazing comeback unfolded, we couldn't help wonder if this was real life we were watching, or some kind of dream sequence.
Then, with the Red Sox on the verge of a 13-10 win in the bottom of the 9th, the Leafs rallied for three more runs to come all the way back and send the game to extra innings.
People at Christie Pits were losing their freakin minds.
In the top of the 10th, Brantford immediately put two runs on the board to take a 15-13 lead.
But this script played out - it had to play out - like one of those crazy Hulk Hogan comebacks, with that electrifying moment when the Hulkster is down on the mat after taking a massive beating. It looks like he's about to bite the dust, and he's got just one little spark of life left. The fans implore him not to give up, and he grabs at that. The spark bursts into flames. He starts to shake, he starts to rock and roll, and with the masses urging him on, everyone comes together in a frenzy, and Hulkamania runs wild.
Backed by the Christie Crazies at full volume, the Leafs rocked and rolled and overcame the longest odds ever. They tied the game again in the bottom of the 10th, and with a man on third base, they won it on an insane wild pitch walkoff.
When the final pitch of the game clattered against the backstop and Connor Lewis raced home with the winning run, the Pits went bonkers. Mental. Call the police!
The Leafs rushed the field behind home plate to swarm "Rajai". But for all intents and purposes, every Leafs player had scored that run. When they were down by 12, they didn't hang their heads and start talking about the next game. They urged each other to Rally. Do Some Hitting Here. Get Some Runs. Win This Thing. And as a team, they won the damn thing in a way that won't soon be forgotten.
Game Recap:
Yeah, it was an average night at Christie Pits. Ha!
The Toronto Maple Leafs welcomed the Brantford Red Sox for game four of their quarterfinal series, with the Leafs leading the series 2-1.
Justin Cicatello made his second series start, against Dumas Garcia who was making his first post-season appearance.
Brantford exploded for seven runs in the first inning. Second baseman Benjamin Bostick led off the game with a single. Rightfielder Nate DeSouza followed with a home run that gave the Sox an instant lead. Cicatello then proceeded to give up five singles in a row, to shortstop Brandon Dailey, DH Dan Jagdeo, first baseman Lee Delfino (scoring Dailey), leftfielder Nic Burdett (scoring Jagdeo), and centerfielder Terrell Alliman. A passed ball to third baseman Jeff Hunt allowed Delfino to score, and then a single by Hunt drove in Burdett. A single by DeSouza his second time up in the inning scored Alliman and it was 7-0 Red Sox before the Leafs had even come to bat. The Owner could be heard crashing around his box uttering oaths.
The Leafs did nothing to calm things by going down 1-2-3 in the first. They also went down without scoring in the second.
A solo home run by Hunt made it 8-0 after three innings, as the Leafs went down 1-2-3 again. And again in the 4th inning. Garcia was pitching a 1-hitter through four.
The Red Sox landed what looked like the knockout punch in the top of the 5th. Kyle Redinger came in to pitch for the Leafs. He gave up a leadoff single to catcher Wayne Forman, and walked Bostick. A single by DeSouza drove in both batters. Jagdeo followed that with a two-run home run and it was 12-0 Red Sox midway through the game.
The Leafs' bats woke up and the great comeback started in the bottom of the 5th. Catcher Will Richards led off with a walk. Centerfielder Tyler Mitchell doubled. A putout by DH Damon Topolie scored Richards. A single by shortstop Connor Lewis scored Mitchell. Rightfielder Grant Tamane walked, then second baseman Dan Marra reached base on an error and the bases were loaded. First baseman Jon Waltenbury drew a walk next, and Lewis trotted home with another run to make it 12-3 Red Sox after five.
After a scoreless sixth, Tamane led off the 7th with a single, but was eliminated when Marra hit into a double play. Waltenbury singled next, as did third baseman Johnathan Solazzo. Leftfielder Raul Borjas also singled, driving in Waltenbury. 12-4 after the 7th inning.
Brantford added another run in the top of the 8th. Dan Zlotnick relieved Redinger and walked Jagdeo to start the inning. After Delfino flew out, Zlotnick faced Burdett next, and uncorked three wild pitches during the at bat. This allowed Jagdeo to advance to second, third and cross home plate. 13-4 midway through the 8th inning.
The Leafs' comeback began to snowball on Brantford in the bottom of the 8th. Mitchell walked to lead off. Brendan Keys then pinch hit for Topolie, and he blasted a two-run home run over the right field fence. Lewis was up next and he doubled. Tamane and Marra walked to load the bases. A single by Waltenbury scored Lewis. A putout by Solazzo scored Tamane. Borjas then walked to re-load the bases. A bases-loaded walk put Richards aboard and allowed Marra to score. Mitchell then hit into a fielder's choice that allowed Waltenbury to score Suddenly it was 13-10 Red Sox after eight innings.
Christian Botnick pitched a scoreless top half of the 9th, and then the Leafs were down to their final at bats. Tyler Soucie came on to close it out for Brantford. Lewis grounded out to lead off, then Tamane drew a walk. Marra singled, then Waltenbury singled to score Tamane. An intentional walk to Solazzo loaded the bases with one out. The ever-reliable Borjas then came through with a single that drove home Marra and Waltenbury to tie the game 13-13 and send it to extras.
The growing noise at the Pits was silenced in the top of the 10th. Dailey hit a grounder that got past Lewis at short. Jagdeo walked, then he and Dailey advanced on a sac bunt by Delfino. Burdett then came through with a two-run single that scored Dailey and Jagdeo. 15-13 Red Sox midway through the 10th inning.
With Soucie still on the mound, Mitchell drew a walk to lead off. A double by Keys over the head of Alliman scored Mitchell to pull the Leafs within one run. Christian Garcia relieved Soucie. Lewis then attempted to advance Keys with a sacrifice, but it was played for an error by Hunt. Lewis made it all the way to second and Keys scored to tie the game. A single by Tamane advanced Lewis to third, and Marra was up next. After fouling off a couple of pitches, Marra took ball one, and then Garcia hurled a wild pitch that went all the way to the backstop. Lewis sprinted for home and crossed the plate easily with the winning run. One of the wildest nights at Christie Pits finally ended with a 16-15 final for the Maple Leafs.
Brantford 15-18-3
Toronto 16-16-3
(10 innings)
W - Botnick (1-0, 4.50)
L - Soucie (0-1, 22.50)
BOXSCORE
The Maple Leafs now hold a 3-1 series lead. Game five will be at Arnold Anderson Stadium this Friday, August 7.
Call the police the Leafs stole this game
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