Black Cats Beat the Mystique

Game 8: Kitchener Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs, May 30, 2018

Panthers win 11-8

It was a mauling.

Through four innings of play at Christie Pits last night, the Kitchener Panthers had scratched up two Toronto Maple Leafs pitchers for a total of ten runs off ten hits and a couple of errors. 

The assault included a home run that Panthers centerfielder Andy Leader hit off of starter R.J. Page (above). Page was yanked with no out in the top of the third and the Leafs down 8-0. Reliever Pedro De Los Santos struck out three to get out of the inning, but the Panthers slashed him for two more runs in the top of the fourth. That made it a 10-0 score and thoughts began to turn towards making an early departure from the park.

Regular readers will know the line that comes next: No lead is safe at Christie Pits. The mystique of the place demands that viewers hang on until the final out, because an epic comeback is always possible.

And so, in the bottom of the sixth, it began.

Catcher Justin Marra led off with a double. After centerfielder Marcus Knecht grounded out, third baseman Johnathan Solazzo singled, moving Justin to third. He scored when brother Dan Marra, playing shortstop this evening, singled. Leftfielder Zac Orchard then drew a walk to load the bases. DH Garrett Takamatsu then smacked a double that drove in two. Rightfielder Daniel Szpik struck out, but second baseman Grant Tamane kept the scoring rally going with a two-run single. That ended the night for Kitchener starter Jonder Martinez, who was relieved by Stephen Gade. First baseman Mike Reeves welcomed Gade with a single that moved Tamane to third. Justin Marra then returned to the plate and got his second hit of the inning, a single that scored Tamane. The Panthers escaped the inning having given up seven hits and six runs to make it a 10-6 ballgame. Those who had earlier thoughts of departure kept themselves firmly rooted where they were.

As night settled in around the park, rendering my broke-ass camera useless, Zac Orchard made the game closer by knocking a two-run homer off new pitcher Eric Steeves. That made it a 10-8 ballgame through seven.

However that was as close as it would get. The Black Cats tacked on one more run in the ninth and held off the mystique for an 11-8 FINAL score.


Kitchener 11-14-0
Toronto 8-11-2

W - Jonder Martinez (1-0, 4.26)
L - Page (1-2, 9.25)
S - Lahera (2)


BOXSCORE


With the win, the Panthers take sole possession of the lead in the IBL standings. The 5-3 Leafs are in third, behind Kitchener and Barrie. Their next games are this weekend, when they play a home-and-home series against the Guelph Royals. On Saturday, June 2nd the Leafs will travel to Guelph for a day game, and return to Christie Pits for the return engagement on Sunday afternoon, June 3rd.

Marra Named IBL Batter of the Week

Justin Marra's home run trot has been a familiar sight around IBL ballparks this season. 

The Maple Leafs slugger leads the league with five round trippers, and word came down from IBL Tower this morning that he has also been named the IBL Batter of the Week. This past week, Marra hit two homers and six RBIs, with a .308 batting average.

While splitting catching duties with new teammate Mike Reeves, Marra has also been playing left field -- his bat too valuable for the bench.

Thud!

Game 7: Hamilton Cardinals at Toronto Maple Leafs, May 27, 2018

Cardinals win 10-8

It started well, but as temperatures soared on a Sunday afternoon at Christie Pits, the Toronto Maple Leafs experienced a mid-game meltdown against the Hamilton Cardinals.  

Racking up seven errors on the day -- including three in the fifth -- the Leafs squandered an early 3-0 lead. A dramatic ninth inning rally fell short, and the home nine ended up on the wrong side of a 10-8 final score.

The tone was arguably set during the first at bat of the game. On a pitch by Hamilton starter Josh Freeman, catcher Mike Reeves (above) was plunked in the back. Thud! 

Reeves was alright. He took his base and later in the inning he scored on a single by third baseman Johnathan Solazzo.

Reeves led off the bottom of the third with a single, and leftfielder Justin Marra gave Toronto a three-run lead with his league-leading fifth home run of the season.

Starter Zach Sloan cruised through the first four innings, giving up just three hits. A fatal fifth inning turned everything around as the Leafs fell apart. Three errors, three walks and three hits including a home run. When Sloan finally battled his way out of the inning, Hamilton had taken a 6-3 lead. Thud!

There was no respite from the sweltering sun, nor from the visitors' bats. Andrew Simonetti relieved Sloan to start the sixth, but Hamilton put two more on the board to increase their lead to 8-3. Thud!

Arman Lakhani took over from Freeman in the bottom of the inning. He gave up singles to second baseman Zac Orchard and DH Damon Topolie. First baseman Julian Johnson followed with another single that scored Orchard. 8-4 Cards through six.

Hamilton added one run in the seventh and ninth innings to stretch their advantage to 10-4. Double thud!

Down to their final three outs, the Leafs tapped into that special reservoir of Christie Mystique for the first time this season. Reeves got things going with a one-out walk. Rightfielder Marcus Knecht was hit by a pitch, and Justin Marra walked to load the bases. Bryan Hames came in to pitch to Solazzo, who ripped a two-run double. That gave Solazzo three RBIs on the game. Hames was immediately yanked for Justin Snow. He faced Orchard, who smacked a two-run single to bring the tying run to the plate. But it was not meant to be, as pinch hitter Garrett Takamatsu grounded into a double play and the Cardinals pinched the win.

Thud.


Hamilton 10-15-0
Toronto 8-10-7

W - Freeman (2-0, 2.76)
L - Sloan (3-1, 2.45)
S - Snow (1)


BOXSCORE


At 5-2, the Leafs are in a logjam atop the IBL standings with the Barrie Baycats and Kitchener Panthers. They will welcome the Panthers to the Pits on May 30 -- the first Wednesday nighter of the season.