Solazzo Goes Downtown, Then Down

Game 11: Barrie Baycats at Toronto Maple Leafs, June 6, 2018

Leafs win 13-9

It was a boom and bust night for Johnathan Solazzo at Christie Pits.

Boom and bruise, to be more accurate.

After his first four trips to the plate on Wednesday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs' third baseman (above) was a triple short of the cycle. He hit an RBI single in the first, a double in the third and a grand slam in the fifth. Those five RBIs raised his total to 16 on the season.

In the seventh, Solazzo was hit by a pitch just above the knee. He fell to the dirt and stayed down for a couple of minutes. Helped to his feet, he limped to the bench, out of the game. The good news was no injury occurred apart from a stinger that is sure to leave a nasty bruise.

By that point in the game, the Mapes enjoyed a 13-9 lead over the Barrie Baycats. The game was in the hands of the bullpens, and R.J. Page, Nick DaSilva, and Andrew Simonetti combined to nail down the win for starter Pedro De Los Santos.

Both clubs had come out swinging early. 

In the top of the first inning, Kevin Atkinson hit a two-run homer to give the visitors an early lead.

The Leafs immediately responded, tagging Barrie starter Brett Lawson for four runs off five hits and an error.

Toronto's 4-2 lead lasted until the top of the third. Jordan Castaldo singled in a run, and Brandon Dhue blasted a grand slam to give the 'Cats a 7-4 lead.

Centerfielder Marcus Knecht led off the bottom of the third with a solo home run -- his first of the season -- to make it a 7-5 game.

The Leafs tacked on another run in the bottom of the fourth to make it a one-run ballgame.

De Los Santos did not have the best of starts. He departed after the fifth inning, having walked in one more run to give Barrie an 8-6 lead. His final line showed four hits, three earned runs, two strikeouts and a gaudy eight walks.

But the Dominican would have the last laugh. His teammates exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the inning to gift him a win. Shortstop Adam Odd and catcher Justin Marra each hit RBI singles. Knecht then drew a bases-loaded walk to score one more and knock Lawson out of the game. Jaspreet Shergill relieved him and his first batter was Solazzo, who went downtown with a grand slam. The inning ended with the Leafs having taken a 13-8 lead.

Toronto's bullpen scattered two hits, two walks and one run over the final four innings to seal the 13-9 FINAL in front of a tenacious crowd on a chilly evening at the Pits. The weather could take a cue from Toronto's high-powered offence and start warming up, pronto.


Barrie 9-6-3
Toronto 13-13-5

W - De Los Santos (2-0, 3.50)
L - Lawson (0-1, 5.55)


BOXSCORE


The Leafs travel to Labatt Memorial Park this Friday night for a contest with the London Majors.