The Cleveland Show

Game 35: London Majors at Toronto Maple Leafs, July 29, 2018

Majors win 13-4

One home run from Cleveland Brownlee was almost expected.

Two home runs from Cleveland Brownlee was deflating.

Three home runs from Cleveland Brownlee, the last of which was a grand slam that capped off a four hit, eight RBI day...

CLEVELAND BROWNLEE CAN YOU CHILL?

The London Majors slugger went yard on three different pitchers yesterday and led his team to a 13-4 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs at Christie Pits.

The demolition began in the first inning, when Brownlee hit a two-run homer off Leafs starter Will Newton. By the time Newton battled his way out of the inning, the Majors had taken a 4-0 lead.

The Leafs responded immediately and loaded the bases. Catcher Garrett Takamatsu then stepped in against starter Starlin Peralta, and drove in a run on a fielder's choice. That made it 4-1 Majors after one.

Zach Sloan relieved Newton in the second inning, and London tacked on one more run via a wild pitch. It was 5-1 Majors through two.

A quiet third inning gave way to a furious fourth. R.J. Fuhr singled to lead off the top of the inning. He then stole second on a close call that prompted some grumbles around the Pits. The grumbles grew louder after a balk was called on Sloan. The Leafs complained and the umpires gathered for a chat, but the call was upheld and Fuhr moved to third base. He then scored on a sac fly by Keith Kandel to make it a 6-1 ballgame.

Rightfielder Zac Orchard led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run that made it 6-2. The Leafs threatened to make it an even bigger inning, but bad umpiring struck again. Centerfielder Connor Lewis singled right after Orchard and moved to second on a passed ball. He moved to third on a groundout, then raced home when another pitch made its way to the backstop. Lewis slid headfirst and appeared to be safely across the plate before a tag was applied by Peralta -- but he was called out. Leafs players and coaches exploded in disbelief, more vociferously than usual, which is always a sign that the ump has blown an easy call. A couple of coaches spoke with the home plate ump, but the call stood and the Leafs' rally ended.

London stretched their lead in the top of the third. Brownlee hit another two-run homer, this time off Pedro De Los Santos. The Majors would add one more to make it a 9-2 game after six innings.

De Los Santos loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, and with Brownlee up again, Andrew Simonetti got the call from the bullpen. The London DH took a called strike and a ball, then hit his third round trip of the game. Grand Slam, 13-2. As Brownlee shuffled across home plate for the third time, he recorded his eighth RBI on the day.

Leafs third baseman Johnathan Solazzo doubled in the bottom of the seventh to drive in a run and make it 13-3.

Toronto added one more run in the bottom of the eighth, when Orchard and second baseman Grant Tamane both doubled and Orchard scored.

That was all she wrote as London rode off with a 13-4 final.


London 13-13-1
Toronto 4-10-2

W - Peralta (7-2, 3.62)
L - Newton (1-1, 7.50)


BOXSCORE


The Leafs drop to 14-19, but remain tied with the Hamilton Cardinals for 4th place in the IBL standings, 10 1/2 games behind the Barrie Baycats. Toronto will next host the Baycats on Wednesday night, August 1st at Christie Pits.