Leafs win 9-6
Leafs lead series 1-0
The skies over Christie Pits were black and blue last night.
As expected, Game 1 of the quarterfinal series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Guelph Royals was all Hammer of the Gods. Both teams took turns wailing on starting pitchers Justin Cicatello and Yunior Yambatis, belting out a total of six home runs.
All those soaring missiles bruised the clouds and caused an atmospheric disturbance. The game was temporarily halted by rain in the seventh inning. By then the damage had been done, and Toronto ended up taking a 9-6 victory.
A new cheer has been started up this season by some sassy hillside hecklers who call themselves The Bushmen. It's for rookie Garrett Takamatsu (above), whose lightning bat and lethal flow have made him one of the new fan favourites. It was "Tak-Tak-Tak-Tak-Tak-Takamatsu!" who smashed a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth that put the Leafs ahead for good.
The game got off to an ominous start on the first pitch from Cicatello. Ethan Mohan drilled it for a home run, and that was just his first one on the night.
The Leafs struck back in the bottom of the first, courtesy of left fielder Justin Marra. Following a single by second baseman Dan Marra, brother Justin belted a homer to give the Leafs a 2-1 lead.
The lead was extended in the bottom of the second. Right fielder Zac Orchard led off with a walk, and Takamatsu singled behind him. Catcher Mike Reeves was intentionally walked, and with two out, Dan Marra hit what looked like an inning-ender, but it was played for an error by the third baseman and two runs scored. 4-1 Leafs through two.
Justin Interisano hit a two-run home run in the top of the third to make it a 4-3 game.
Guelph took the lead in the top of the fourth when Mohan hit his second of the night, a two-run shot that put the Royals ahead 5-4.
It was looking like the game would become a 20-19 shootout, but Cicatello and Yambatis both settled down for a couple of innings, until the decisive sixth.
Orchard led off with a single. That brought Takamatsu to the plate. He wasted no time, and absolutely crushed the first pitch from Yambatis. It was a no-doubter that disappeared into the clouds somewhere over Bloor Street. The Pits went wild, and there was more to come. Centerfielder Connor Lewis walked and moved to third on a single by Reeves. Dan Marra cashed him in with an RBI single and the Leafs led 7-5 after six innings.
The Royals pulled back to within a run in the top of the seventh. Former Leaf Jon Waltenbury hit an RBI single to make it 7-6.
The Leafs got some breathing room in the bottom of the seventh, when Orchard hit a two-run homer. By then, the skies had had enough, and it started raining. The umpires did not wait long before calling a delay and the tarps came out. It was a short rainfall, and after some quick work to the infield, play resumed. Yambatis was relieved by Adam Rossit, who completed the inning. The Leafs now enjoyed a 9-6 lead and it was bullpen time.
Nick DaSilva had pitched the seventh, surrendering the RBI to Waltenbury. Andrew Simonetti pitched a perfect eighth with two strikeouts.
Dustin Richardson came on in the ninth and slammed the door. Two K's, including a swinging strikeout of Waltenbury to end the game. Cicatello got the win in the 9-6 FINAL and the Christie Crazies went home damp but happy.
Guelph 6-8-1
Toronto 9-9-3
W - Cicatello (1-0, 3.00)
L - Yambatis (0-1, 9.44)
S - Richardson (1)
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 1.
Game 2 of this series will take place at Hastings Stadium in Guelph on Saturday, August 11. First pitch is at 7:30 pm.
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