QF Game 5: Toronto Maple Leafs at Brantford Red Sox - August 14, 2016
Red Sox win 5-4
Red Sox win 5-4
Man, it feels like this series has been going on all month.*
After two rainouts and no games since last Wednesday, the quarterfinal between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Brantford Red Sox resumed Sunday night with Game 5 at Arnold Anderson Stadium.
With the series having slowed to a crawl (the semi-final between Kitchener and Barrie actually got started on the same night), the Leafs and Sox returned to the grind-it-out style of their early games.
Bottom of the fourth, Leafs winning by a run, each team looking for an opening.
Suddenly, the hands of fate intervened.
With a man on and no out, Brantford hit a grounder up the middle. Unable to turn two, the Leafs fielded it and threw to first. Bang. Beat. Bang. The umpire extended his arms to either side, palms facing the ground.
Safe.
First baseman Johnathan Solazzo took a couple of steps backward as if he'd been kicked in the stomach. The other infielders' faces dropped in disbelief. They voiced their disagreement instantaneously.
Toronto's travelling fans protested louder than the players. Banding into an instant-mob, they questioned the ump's judgement, eyesight, and self-worth. But to no avail. Two men on, no out.
Later in the inning, the hands of fate struck again. The same umpire threw his hands up and then shot a fist towards the pitcher's mound, an accusing finger pointing out Justin Cicatello.
Balk.
The Leafs responded again. More howls of outrage from the stands. Manager Damon Topolie stormed onto the field to demand an explanation. The ump stood his ground.
The inning continued and the Red Sox put three precious runs on the board.
Was the game turned by the hands of fate? There were plenty of outs left and some scoring yet to happen. But Toronto fans sensed that the events of the fourth inning may have been pivotal, and they kept battering the ump with complaints for another inning or two.**
The Leafs battled back to within one run in the ninth, but the home team held on for a 5-4 victory to take a 3-2 series lead.
* It has!
** Torontonians won't hesitate to complain when they feel affronted over something, anything. When the city of Toronto was amalgamated in 1999, it was proposed that the new civic coat of arms would bear the Latin slogan "Diligamus nos queri" ("We love to complain"), but it got scrapped at the last minute. Too many people complained.
Game Recap:
On the third try, Game 5 of the quarterfinal between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Brantford Red Sox was played last night at Arnold Anderson Stadium. Riley Barr was on the mound against Justin Cicatello for the visitors.
After a scoreless first two innings, the Leafs got on the board in the top of the 3rd. Centerfielder Connor Lewis led off with a double, moved to third on a putout at first by leftfielder Grant Tamane. Second baseman Dan Marra was hit by a pitch, and then Lewis came home on a sac fly by DH Jon Waltenbury. The Leafs had a chance to add another run when catcher Justin Marra doubled. Brother Dan rounded for home, but was tagged out on the play. After three innings, it was 1-0 Leafs.
The game turned in Brantford's favour in the bottom of the 4th. Leftfielder Josh McCurdy singled and catcher Ricky Murray reached on a questionable call at first. The play was ruled a fielding error by Cicatello, putting two men on with no out. Both baserunners advanced on a groundout by DH Dan Jagdeo. First baseman Nic Burdett then hit a double to drive in two runs. Burdett would also come in to score after rightfielder Jeff Hunt hit a single. 3-1 Red Sox after four.
Both starters cruised through the 5th and 6th innings with no further scoring.
Barr, Matt Betts and Tanner Guindon worked through a scoreless top of the 7th.
In the bottom of the 7th, second baseman Benjamin Bostick reached safely on an error by first baseman Johnathan Solazzo. Centerfielder Chris Dennis followed with a single, and third baseman Tyler Patzalek drove in Bostick with a single of his own. Cicatello then walked McCurdy to load the bases, and manager Damon Topolie made a call to the bullpen for Marek Deska. Deska gave up a single to Murray that allowed Dennis to score. Patzalek followed him to the plate, but was tagged out at home by Justin Marra. When the dust cleared, the Red Sox had extended their lead to 5-1 through seven.
Neither team did any damage in the 8th, leaving Toronto with three outs left in the top of the 9th.
Shortstop Ryan White got things started for the Leafs with a leadoff walk. Lewis followed with a second walk. Both runners advanced on a groundout by Tamane, and Trevor Bayless came on to relieve Guindon. Bayless faced Dan Marra and walked the bases loaded. That brought Waltenbury back to the plate, but Bayless got him to strikeout swinging. Justin Marra represented the Leafs' last hope. Before he could respond, White scored on a passed ball that eluded Murray. Justin then drove in both Lewis and Dan with a single, bringing the Leafs to within one run. But that would be as close as they got. Bayless struckout third baseman Sean Mattson to end the game and hang on to a 5-4 FINAL for Brantford.
** Torontonians won't hesitate to complain when they feel affronted over something, anything. When the city of Toronto was amalgamated in 1999, it was proposed that the new civic coat of arms would bear the Latin slogan "Diligamus nos queri" ("We love to complain"), but it got scrapped at the last minute. Too many people complained.
Game Recap:
On the third try, Game 5 of the quarterfinal between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Brantford Red Sox was played last night at Arnold Anderson Stadium. Riley Barr was on the mound against Justin Cicatello for the visitors.
After a scoreless first two innings, the Leafs got on the board in the top of the 3rd. Centerfielder Connor Lewis led off with a double, moved to third on a putout at first by leftfielder Grant Tamane. Second baseman Dan Marra was hit by a pitch, and then Lewis came home on a sac fly by DH Jon Waltenbury. The Leafs had a chance to add another run when catcher Justin Marra doubled. Brother Dan rounded for home, but was tagged out on the play. After three innings, it was 1-0 Leafs.
The game turned in Brantford's favour in the bottom of the 4th. Leftfielder Josh McCurdy singled and catcher Ricky Murray reached on a questionable call at first. The play was ruled a fielding error by Cicatello, putting two men on with no out. Both baserunners advanced on a groundout by DH Dan Jagdeo. First baseman Nic Burdett then hit a double to drive in two runs. Burdett would also come in to score after rightfielder Jeff Hunt hit a single. 3-1 Red Sox after four.
Both starters cruised through the 5th and 6th innings with no further scoring.
Barr, Matt Betts and Tanner Guindon worked through a scoreless top of the 7th.
In the bottom of the 7th, second baseman Benjamin Bostick reached safely on an error by first baseman Johnathan Solazzo. Centerfielder Chris Dennis followed with a single, and third baseman Tyler Patzalek drove in Bostick with a single of his own. Cicatello then walked McCurdy to load the bases, and manager Damon Topolie made a call to the bullpen for Marek Deska. Deska gave up a single to Murray that allowed Dennis to score. Patzalek followed him to the plate, but was tagged out at home by Justin Marra. When the dust cleared, the Red Sox had extended their lead to 5-1 through seven.
Neither team did any damage in the 8th, leaving Toronto with three outs left in the top of the 9th.
Shortstop Ryan White got things started for the Leafs with a leadoff walk. Lewis followed with a second walk. Both runners advanced on a groundout by Tamane, and Trevor Bayless came on to relieve Guindon. Bayless faced Dan Marra and walked the bases loaded. That brought Waltenbury back to the plate, but Bayless got him to strikeout swinging. Justin Marra represented the Leafs' last hope. Before he could respond, White scored on a passed ball that eluded Murray. Justin then drove in both Lewis and Dan with a single, bringing the Leafs to within one run. But that would be as close as they got. Bayless struckout third baseman Sean Mattson to end the game and hang on to a 5-4 FINAL for Brantford.
Toronto 4-7-2
Brantford 5-10-0
W - Barr (1-0, 3.37)
L - Cicatello (0-1, 4.90)
S - Bayless (1)
S - Bayless (1)
LEAFS ON THE BRINK. The Mapes now face elimination in Game 6, tonight at Christie Pits. It will be a huge contest between two clubs that have given little quarter to the other. A win by Toronto will force a seventh game Tuesday night in Brantford. Let's get there!
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