Leafs win 6-5 (10 innings)
Series tied 2-2
After going along for the ride in Games 2 and 3 of this quarterfinal series, the Toronto Maple Leafs have seized the wheel from the Guelph Royals.
Powered by a dominant relief performance by Dustin Richardson (above), the Leafs won 6-5 in ten innings last night at Hastings Stadium.
The win ties the series at two games apiece and forces a deciding fifth game, to be played tonight at Christie Pits.
Richardson gave up just one hit while striking out seven over 4 1/3 innings in relief of Justin Cicatello. The fireballing Kansan kept the Royals off the board and earned the win after Toronto scored the go-ahead run in the tenth.
The Leafs made a statement early, knocking Guelph starter Yunior Yambatis for four runs off four hits. Catcher Mike Reeves, shortstop Aaron Hornostaj and centerfielder Connor Lewis each singled to start the inning. Leftfielder Grant Tamane then coaxed out a four-pitch walk to bring Reeves home with the first run of the game. Two more runs scored when first baseman Justin Marra hit a single to right, and rightfielder Marcus Knecht made it a 4-0 ballgame on a grounder that drove in Tamane.
The Royals responded immediately, scoring three runs on four hits -- including a two-run triple by Darius Barlas. It was 4-3 Leafs after two innings.
Both clubs added a run in the fourth. Justin Marra rapped a double and scored on a single by third baseman Zac Orchard. 5-3 Leafs.
Barlas struck again after Cicatello walked two to start the bottom of the inning. Barlas hit one that Toronto's starter played for an error. He reached second safely while a run came in and the score was 5-4 after four innings.
It's been a tight series with tight games and this one was the tightest of all. Cicatello pitched into the sixth. Brendan Keys led off with a single and moved to second when Barlas was hit by a pitch. Keys scored on a single by Ethan Mohan, combined with an error at short that allowed him to cross home plate with the game-tying run. Richardson got the call from the pen, relieved his fellow American on the mound, and ended the inning. It was 5-5 after six.
The tension ratcheted up as the seventh, eighth and ninth innings all went by with no score.
Yambatis pitched his guts out all night. He went back to the mound to start the tenth, but the fuel tank was empty. He gave up a leadoff double to Reeves, followed by an RBI single through the infield and into center by Hornostaj. It turned out to be the game-winning play. Reeves flew home from second, his feet barely touching the basepaths, and the Leafs retook the lead. Lewis was up next and he drew a walk. That was the end of the night for Yambatis and he was relieved after throwing 173 pitches. David Hatt came in to finish the inning, but it was 6-5 Leafs and the Royals were down to their final three outs.
There was a scary moment in the bottom of the tenth. Richardson faced Keys with two outs on the board. A high one from the Toronto pitcher hit Keys on the side of his helmet and he went down. The ballpark fell silent as staff and players gathered around the former Leaf catcher. After a couple of tense minutes, Keys was able to sit up, then walk off the field to applause. He was subbed at first base and pinch hitter Christoper Procopio was up next. Richardson struck him out swinging to end the game with a 6-5 final in ten.
So this tense, tight series all comes down to one game. The winner will face the Kitchener Panthers in the semifinals. As with all elimination games, anything could happen. Since it's being played at Christie Pits, something weird or unexpected likely will. It's going to be huge, and it starts a few hours from now.
Toronto 6-11-3
Guelph 5-10-1
W - Richardson (1-0, 0.00)
L - Yambatis (0-2, 7.46)
BOXSCORE
NOTE: Eric Penkala and Cory Graham are providing live webcasts of each Leafs playoff game and archiving them on YouTube. The channel is Toronto Maple Leafs IBL Webcast.
Here's their complete coverage of Game 4.
The fifth and final game of this series will take place tonight at Christie Pits. First pitch is at 7:30 pm.
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