Not Any Given Sunday

Game 4: Burlington Herd at Toronto Maple Leafs, May 20, 2018

Leafs win 7-5

The old story of David and Goliath has been around probably longer than baseball. 

Plucky underdog takes on unassailable favourite, and the undefeated gets upset by the winless. That scenario took shape early in the contest between the Toronto Maple Leafs (undefeated) and the Burlington Herd (winless) on a summery Sunday at Christie Pits.

The Herdsmen jumped out to an early lead and extended it to 4-0 by the top of the third. In a year when the IBL boasts increased parity and competitiveness, it looked like the "Any Given Sunday" script was about to play itself out.

But the Leafs rallied. Justin Marra (above) led the comeback with two home runs including a game-winning three-run blast in the sixth.

Zach Sloan pitched seven innings for the win, and Andrew Simonetti came in to record the final six outs for the save in a 7-5 FINAL.

The Herd tagged Sloan for two runs in the first and two more in the third, but he settled down after that and held them at bay through the seventh.

The Mapes began their comeback in the bottom of the third. Burlington starter Clay Miller walked catcher Mike Reeves and Justin Marra, who way playing left field. A third walk to centerfielder Marcus Knecht loaded the bases. Miller struck out the next two, and looked to escape the jam until DH Damon Topolie grounded one to short, but reached safely on a throwing error. Reeves scored on the play. Marra and Knecht would follow him across the plate when second baseman Dan Marra hit a two-run single. That made it a 4-3 game for Burlington through three.

Justin Marra tied the game with a solo tater off reliever Scott Plaza in the bottom of the fourth for a 4-4 score.

The game remained deadlocked until the bottom of the sixth. Dan Marra and Reeves both walked, setting the stage for Justin. His second homer of the game lit up the Pits and put the home side ahead 7-4.

Justin was the undisputed player of the game, making his mark with both bat and glove. He made a spectacular diving catch in left in the first inning, and his two round trips won the day for Toronto.

Burlington snuck one run off of Simonetti in the eighth, but he held on to close out the game and send the fans home happy with another Christie winner.


Burlington 5-7-2
Toronto 7-4-6

W - Sloan (3-0, 3.18)
L - Plaza (0-1, 1.80)
S - Simonetti (1)


BOXSCORE


The first place Leafs next head to Jack Couch Park this Thursday night, for a road game against the 3-2 Kitchener Panthers.