A Walk in the Barn

Game 4: Toronto Maple Leafs at Burlington Herd, May 20, 2017

Leafs win 11-4

The IBL franchise in Burlington exists in a perpetual state of rebirth.

The club has had three different ownership regimes since relocating from Mississauga in 2011. Over the past seven years its players have taken the field wearing four different uniforms bearing three different team names. Time Lords regenerate less often.

The Toronto Maple Leafs were in town yesterday afternoon to play the Herd, the latest incarnation of baseball in B-town.

The PA announcer welcomed fans to "the Barn" during the opening lineups, although the only visibly new structure at the park was a bouncy castle behind the home stands. The rest of the place is the same Nelson Park of old.

New name, new look, new outlook. If that start-of-season optimism didn't smack you in the face, then some flying dust probably did. It was a very windy day and hella cold, so as the game got underway, everyone at the park curled up ever so slightly within their uniforms, windbreakers or heavy blankets, if they were forward thinking enough.

After a couple of scoreless innings, the Herd galloped to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third. With one out, centerfielder Justin Gideon singled off Toronto starter Justin Cicatello. He then stole second and reached third on a groundout. A pickoff throw from catcher Justin Marra sailed past third base and Justin trotted home on the error, sticking Justin with an unearned run.* On the same play, rightfielder Ryan Freemantle drew a walk. Catcher Kevin Hussey then reached first on an error by Tyler Hardie (foot off the bag). Two on, two out, and DH Carlos Villoria doubled to score Freemantle. First baseman John Whaley followed up with an RBI single that plated Hussey for the third run of the inning.

That inning would be Cicatello's only wobble of the game. After that, he shut down the Herd and departed after the sixth inning with the game tied 3-3.

The Leafs had tied the game an inning before. Burlington starter Rich Corrente pitched a shutout into the fifth before being touched for a double by DH Brendan Keys and a single by shortstop Ryan White. Centerfielder Connor Lewis then hit one to second base that was played for an error. This allowed Lewis to reach second, White to reach third, and Keys to score. Corrente got the hook. Adam Prashad took over on the mound, and Burlington's fortunes took a turn. Hussey's attempt to pick White off third was misplayed, allowing White to score and Lewis to move over to third. Justin Marra then drove in Lewis with a single to tie the game.

Toronto took the lead in the top of the 7th. Prashad walked Justin Marra, who then moved to second on a single by third baseman Adam Odd. Hardie then whapped one into centerfield, and Marra chugged around to score, sliding home to make it a 4-3 Leafs lead through seven.

The wheels fell off for Burlington in the top of the ninth. Prashad was relieved by Casey Bouillere-Howard, who gave up three runs on three hits and three walks without recording an out. Chris Dupuis was next out of the bullpen, and the Leafs kept piling it on. Two more singles, a walk and an error, and when the dust settled on this blustery afternoon, the Leafs had scored a grand total of 11 runs on 12 hits and five errors by the Herdsmen. Burlington's pitchers also gave up ten -- ten! -- walks.

Andrew Simonetti pitched two scoreless innings of relief for Toronto before handing the ball over to fellow newcomer Pedro De Los Santos, who gave up a meaningless unearned run before closing out an 11-4 final and a win for the Torontos. That game-winning slide in the top of the 7th earned Cicatello the win.

Ryan White led Toronto's hitting assault with three hits and an RBI on the day. Justin Marra, Tyler Hardie and pinch hitter Daniel Szpik each contributed a pair of hits. The RBIs for Toronto were spread throughout the order. Eight different batters each recorded a ribbie.

And so a close game ended up becoming a windswept blowout. Maybe not so much a stroll in the park as a walk in the barn, eh? (New name, new look, new outlook!)

* Can you guess one of the most popular boy's names a quarter century ago?


W - Cicatello (1-0, 1.63)
L - Prashad (0-1, 2.25)


BOXSCORE


The Maple Leafs are now 2-1 to start the season, good for 3rd place in the IBL standings. Their next game will be home at Christie Pits on May 21st against the Barrie Baycats.