Majors win 9-6
Cleveland Brownlee must love hitting at Christie Pits.
I can't remember a game where the big Georgian hasn't homered at the Pits. It's part of the London-at-Toronto experience every season. The man who wears both the number and the physique of Frank Thomas hits them to the exact same spot over the left field fence. He hit two of them today, leading his London Majors to a 9-6 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
With the win, the Majors take a two-game lead in this semifinal series.
Where Game 1 was a meticulous, smallball affair, Game 2 was a grand old slugfest. Both clubs combined for 27 hits and 15 runs.
Johnathan Solazzo bashed his third home run of the post season, part of his three hit, two RBI afternoon. Ryan White also notched three hits and two RBIs. Sean Mattson had three hits and scored three runs. Dan Marra also drove in a run.
Marek Deska made an emergency start for Toronto in place of scheduled starter Mike Wagner. Deska went three innings before turning it over to Adam Garner who pitched the rest of the game.
The Leafs battled back from an 8-1 deficit to make a contest of it in the later innings, but London's firepower was too much today. A positive note is that some of Toronto's slumbering bats have woken up and they were able to manufacture runs late. If they can carry this on to Game 3, we'll have a series on our hands.
Game Recap:
A mix of sun and cloud greeted fans on the Christie hillside as the Toronto Maple Leafs hosted the London Majors for Game 2 of their semifinal series. On the mound were Marek Deska for the Mapes against Oscar Perez for the Majors.
The Majors struck right away, as leftfielder RJ Fuhr singled and stole second. A single by centerfielder Byron Reichstein drove in Fuhr and the Majors were off to a 1-0 lead.
Perez pitched a perfect 1st and 2nd inning.
The Majors extended their lead in the top of the 3rd. Fuhr singled and stole second base again. With two outs, Deska then walked Reichstein. First baseman Cleveland Brownlee was up next, and he knocked the first pitch from Deska over the left field fence for a three-run homer. 4-0 Majors through three.
Adam Garner relieved Deska to start the top of the 4th. He gave up a single to rightfielder LeJon Baker, who advanced to second when the ball got past Brendan Keys in right. A sac bunt by DH Humberto Ruiz moved Baker to third, and then a single by third baseman Carlos Arteaga drove him in. Shortstop Keith Kandel hit a double to drive in Arteaga to make it 6-0 Majors midway through the 4th.
Catcher Justin Marra led off the bottom of the 4th with a walk. Up next, DH Sean Mattson singled. Third baseman Johnathan Solazzo singled next to load the bases. Shortstop Ryan White continued the hit parade with an RBI single that scored Marra. That put the Leafs on the board but they trailed 6-1 after four innings of play.
The Majors added a couple of runs in the top of the 5th. Catcher Michael Ambrose and Baker both singled. Ruiz sac bunted again to move them over. Arteaga returned to the plate and drove both baserunners in with a single off Garner. That made it 8-1 Majors midway through the game.
In the bottom of the 6th, Mattson led off with a single, and then Solazzo smashed an offering from Perez over the fence in center-right. The Leafs began their clawback and it was 8-3 after six.
Todd Leavitt relieved Perez to start the bottom of the 7th. After getting two quick outs, he walked Mattson. Solazzo followed with a single, and then White hit an RBI single that scored Mattson. Second baseman Dan Marra lifted a pitch from Leavitt into rightfield, where Baker botched the catch. Marra was safe at first, White moved to third, and Solazzo came in to score. 8-5 Majors after seven.
Garner retired the side in the top of the 8th.
Jordan Skavinsky relieved Leavitt and retired the side in the bottom of the inning.
Brownlee led off the top of the 9th with his second first-pitch home run of the game, making it 9-5 London.
Down to their final three outs, the V-necks came out swinging. Mattson singled. White doubled. A groundout by Dan Marra allowed Mattson to score, but there would be no miracle comeback on this day as Skavinsky recorded the third out to end the game for a 9-6 FINAL for London.
London 9-15-1
Toronto 6-12-2
W - Perez (2-0, 2.18)
L - Deska (1-2, 6.58)
BOXSCORE
The series continues with Game 3 at Labatt Memorial Park in London on Tuesday night, August 23rd.
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