Leafs win 11-6
After taking a severe beating in Guelph last night, the Toronto Maple Leafs bounced back with a resounding team effort to beat the Royals 11-6 this afternoon at Christie Pits.
Marek Deska delivered the star performance of the day.
In the third inning, things looked grim. Runs, hits and errors all over the place. The Leafs had fallen behind 5-2 and the slamming of chairs in the owner's box thundered around the Pits like mortar fire.
Deska got the call from the bullpen to relieve starter David Ertl. The bulldog immediately put a halt to Guelph's offensive ambitions. He was absolutely lights out over 4.2 innings, striking out 9 out of 17 batters faced.
Adam Marra and Brett van Pelt each pitched a scoreless inning to finish off the game.
At the plate, Justin Marra led the way with a go-ahead, 2-run home run in the fifth. Marra racked up three RBIs. Ryan White and Johnathan Solazzo both homered as well, and they each picked up a couple of RBIs. Jon Waltenbury and Damon Topolie also drove in a run each.
Prior to Justin Marra's homer in the fifth, Dan Marra's sac bunt attempt proved eventful. It was fielded for an error that allowed two runs to score and tie the game. After that, the only mortar fire to be heard came from Toronto's bats. Brother Justin belted the game winner and the Leafs didn't look back.
Game Recap:
It was a hot one at Christie Pits today. Hella hot.
The Toronto Maple Leafs hosted the Guelph Royals for the second half of a home-and-home weekend series. David Ertl made the start for Toronto against Marc-Andre Major.
Like the night before, Guelph jumped out to an early lead as things looked shaky for Toronto. Batting leadoff, second baseman Kingsley Alarcon reached first safely on an error by third baseman Johnathan Solazzo. DH Matt Schmidt then reached first safely on an error by first baseman Jon Waltenbury. A single by rightfielder Chandler McLaren loaded the bases. Then a single by centerfielder Aaron Loder scored Alarcon. A sac fly by shortstop Adam Rossit scored Schmidt and the Royals were off to a 2-0 lead.
Toronto centerfielder Connor Lewis led off the bottom of the frame with a solid double. Up next, leftfielder Grant Tamane was hit by a pitch. Waltenbury then cashed in Lewis with a single that made it a 2-1 ballgame after the first inning of play.
Ertl hit Guelph catcher Blake Kauer with a pitch to start the second. A sac bunt moved Kauer to second, and a home run by Schmidt put two more runs on the board. 4-1 Royals midway through the inning.
Shortstop Ryan White hit a solo home run in the bottom of the 2nd that made it 4-2 for the Royals.
Guelph kept at it in the top of the 3rd. Loder and Rossit both got aboard with walks. Third baseman Turner Spears then drove in Loder with a one-out single. That ended the afternoon for Ertl as Marek Deska came in to relieve him. Deska got out of the inning unscathed, but it was now 5-2 Guelph after three innings.
Deska struck out three in the top of the 4th.
The Leafs got another run back in the bottom of the 4th. Catcher Justin Marra walked to start things off. DH Damon Topolie singled and Marra moved to third. A double by White drove him in to make it 5-3 Guelph through four.
Deska retired the side in the top of the 5th.
Waltenbury led off the bottom of the inning with a single. He moved to second on a wild pitch, then Solazzo walked. Adrian Yuen came in to pitch for Major. The first batter he faced was second baseman Dan Marra, whose attempt at a sac bunt was played for an error by Spears. That allowed Waltenbury to score, and Solazzo came roaring in after him, sliding hard at home to score the tying run. Justin Marra was up next, and he blasted a two-run homer to put the Leafs ahead 7-5 through five.
Deska posted another three up, three down inning in the top of the 6th.
Lewis led off the bottom of the inning with a single off of Richard Gill, who had relieved Yuen. Lewis was out on an attempted steal of second. Tamane walked next, then Waltenbury flied out. Solazzo then smashed a no-doubt home run over the right field fence to make it a 9-5 ballgame in favour of the Torontos after 6 innings.
Deska gave up a solo home run to Loder in the top of the 7th to make it 9-6 Leafs after seven innings.
Adam Marra came in to pitch the top of the 8th for Toronto. He gave up a single and a couple of walks, but stranded all three men aboard.
With two out in the bottom of the 8th, Solazzo singled and Dan Marra reached safely on an error. Justin Marra then singled to score Solazzo. Topolie was up next, and he also singled in a run as Dan Marra crossed the plate, giving the Leafs an 11-6 lead through eight.
Brett van Pelt came in to pitch the 9th inning and he pitched a scoreless frame to lock down an 11-6 FINAL for the Leafs.
Guelph 6-8-2
Toronto 11-14-2
W - Deska (1-1, 2.25)
L - Yuen (0-2, 5.50)
BOXSCORE
The Marra Leafs are now 13-13 and remain in 5th place in the IBL standings. Their next game will be back at Christie Pits this Wednesday night, July 13 when they will welcome the Kitchener Panthers back to town.
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