Leafs win 10-7
It was a hot summer night and the Pits were burning, and balls were flying over the fence.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Kitchener Panthers combined for five home runs last night, in a slugfest that ended 10-7 in favour of the home side.
Justin Marra knocked two homers and Johnathan Solazzo smashed one that might still be bouncing down Bloor Street.
For Kitchener, Justin Interisano hit a grand slam and the IBL's all-time home run king Sean Reilly also hit a round tripper.
The edge in this game was on the mound. Mike Wagner went the distance for Toronto, giving up three earned runs over nine innings while striking out 10.
Despite the oppressive heat, there was a lively playoff atmosphere at the Pits. When these two clubs get together they like to bring it. A boisterous crowd whooped it up after every strikeout as the Leafs pulled off a win against the best team in the league.
Game Recap:
The Toronto Maple Leafs welcomed the league leading Kitchener Panthers to Christie Pits on a hot night in Hogtown.
Newcomer Mike Wagner made his first start on the mound for Toronto, facing off against David Whiteside for the visitors.
Kitchener loaded the bases in the top of the 1st but Wagner got out of the jam without surrendering a run.
Handing left field duties for the night, Jon Waltenbury got the offence started in the bottom of the 1st when he rapped a double off of Whiteside. That was quickly followed by catcher Justin Marra's first home run of the night, a two-run blast that gave the Leafs an early 2-0 lead.
Both starters traded scoreless 2nd innings.
Toronto struck again in the bottom of the 3rd. Third baseman Johnathan Solazzo and rightfielder Will Richards both singled to start things off. Second baseman Dan Marra reached safely on a fielding error and loaded the bases. Solazzo then scored when first baseman Damon Topolie grounded into a double play. 3-0 Toronto through three.
The 4th saw each starter pitch a 1-2-3 inning.
Things went terribly wrong in the top of the 5th. Kitchener second baseman Mike Andrulis singled to lead off, and leftfielder Jonathan Brouse reached safely on an error by Solazzo. Wagner got the next two men out, but that brought up IBL home run king Sean Reilly. The Leafs elected to put Reilly aboard intentionally, bringing first baseman Justin Interisano to the plate with the bases loaded. The move backfired as Interisano clubbed a grand slam to give the Panthers a 4-3 lead after five innings.
The Leafs recovered and seized control of the game in the bottom of the 6th. Matt Vickers relieved Whiteside on the mound. Topolie was up first, and he reached safely on an error. Shortstop Ryan White singled next, and centerfielder Connor Lewis also singled to load the bases. A single by Waltenbury cashed in Topolie and White, and a single by Justin Marra scored Lewis. Vickers' night was over before he recorded an out, and Yuji Suzuki came in from the Kitchener bullpen. Suzuki got DH Sean Mattson to fly out, but then Solazzo hit a mammoth home run over the centerfield fence. Three runs came in to score, and by the time the inning was over the Leafs had sent nine men to the plate and made it a 9-4 ballgame.
Wagner repaid his teammates in the top of the 7th, striking out Reilly, Interisano and third baseman Terrell Alliman. After being rung up by the home plate umpire, Interisano turned and asked him if he was familiar with Zen gardening. He then demonstrated by drawing a line in the dirt, just wide of the plate. The umpire seemed to misinterpret the gesture, and tossed Interisano from the game.
Kitchener started a late-game clawback in the top of the 8th. Andrulis hit a two-out double, and scored on a single by Brouse. That made it 9-5 Toronto midway through the inning.
Justin Marra got one right back for the Leafs, hitting a solo homer -- his second blast of the night. That made the score 10-5 with Kitchener down to their final three outs.
The Panthers made a run at it in the 9th. Wagner returned to the mound looking for a complete game win. He walked shortstop Colin Gordner to start the inning, and Reilly struck with a two-run homer. Wagner hunkered down and gave up just one more single before locking down three outs, a complete game and a 10-7 FINAL for Toronto.
Kitchener 7-10-2
Toronto 10-13-1
W - Wagner (1-0, 2.81)
L - Vickers (0-2, 8.02)
The Leafs climb above .500 with a 14-13 record, good for 5th place in the IBL standings. This home-and-home series with Kitchener continues Thursday night, July 14 at Jack Couch Park.
Interesting haps, R-Kon!
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