On the Christie Hillside: A Very Maple Leafy Week

Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - July 31 to August 6, 2023

The Leafs were up and down and up again in Week 12 of the IBL season.

A familiar sight in Maple Leafs baseball this week: Johnathan Solazzo and Jordan Castaldo rounding the bases. Both sluggers hit a pair of home runs this week.

A classic Toronto Maple Leafs season is unfolding, exemplified by the very Leafy week we've just witnessed.

The Leafs continue to walk the tightrope of a .500 record. They won a couple and lost a couple, in classic Leaf fashion. The wins were massive, severe beatdowns. The losses were devastating. We followed along and rode a roller coaster of emotions throughout the week.

The best part of it all is that while the monsters are mashing again, and the arms are keeping it together when it counts most, other players are contributing too. The recaps below are covered with names in bold type because of the team's depth and the fact that every player on the roster put his mark on the games this week.

The regular season is coming down to its final weeks. The Leafs are showing no cause for alarm and every reason to believe they are on the right track.

And now here's the recap of Week 12 in Toronto Maple Leafs baseball.

Tuesday, August 1, 2023 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Kitchener Panthers

Jose Vinicio launches his second home run of the night, part of a five-bomb barrage by the Maple Leafs in Kitchener. (image: Panthers Baseball Online)

Veni, Vidi, Vinicio!

In his first at bat of the game, Jose Vinicio of the Toronto Maple Leafs set the tone with a leadoff home run.

The Leafs clubbed five homers in this Tuesday night contest at Jack Couch Park, defeating the Kitchener Panthers 14-4.

The Toronto shortstop's round tripper remained the only score in the game until the top of the third. Vinicio hit another leadoff bomb! That was followed by a solo blast off the bat of catcher Justin Marra. Second baseman Dan Marra capped off the inning with a three-run home run to give the Leafs a 6-0 lead.

The game was in safe hands with Wilgenis Alvarado on the mound. Toronto's starter went five innings, giving up a pair of runs while striking out seven.

On the other side of the mound, Jacob Douglas could not get out of the fourth inning. The Leafs ran up the score with three more runs. Douglas loaded the bases, then plunked left fielder Jesse Hodges to bring home a run. Douglas got the hook, but a fielding error on a play at first base brought in a couple more. After four innings, the Leafs enjoyed a 9-1 lead.

After the clubs traded a pair of runs in the fifth inning to make it a 10-2 ballgame, Alvarado turned the game over to the bullpen.

Marek Deska, Julian Tymochko and Zach Sloan combined to pitch the final four innings. Deska and Sloan each game up one run.

In the seventh inning, right fielder Ryan Santos, DH Jordan Castaldo, and Hodges each recorded an RBI to pile things on.

In the top of the ninth, Justin Marra knocked his second homer and Toronto's fifth of the night. The Panthers were soundly beaten by ten runs in this one. Alvarado got the win and the Leafs boarded the team plane for a quick turnaround the following night.

Toronto 14 15 0

Kitchener 4 9 2

W - Alvarado (1-1, 2.39)

L - Douglas (3-4, 7.41)

BOXSCORE

Wednesday, August 2, 2023 - Barrie Baycats at Toronto Maple Leafs

The Barrie Baycats slap hands after winning a stunner at Christie Pits. (image: Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball TV)

A classic rivalry game.

Wednesday night at Christie Pits, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Barrie Baycats went toe to toe, grinding it out a run at a time. After eight innings, the Leafs held an 8-6 lead.

Then the roof caved in.

The Baycats erupted for six runs in the top of the ninth. Three walks, a hit-by-pitch, and four singles in a row scored six for Barrie. Neither Evan Elliott nor Julian Valdez had a great night on the mound in relief.

Starters Jesse Hodges and Jeifry Nunez faced off over the first five innings. Nunez surrendered six earned runs to the Leafs while Hodges held the Baycats to three.

After Barrie took an early 2-0 lead, the Leafs went ahead in the bottom of the first, thanks to an RBI single by first baseman Jordan Castaldo, and a two-run homer by left fielder Garrett Takamatsu. 3-2 through one.

As Hodges settled down (he gave up three runs on four hits and four K's), the Leafs scored a run each inning from the third to the sixth, and held a 7-3 lead going into the seventh inning.

Barrie scored a run in the seventh off reliever Chris Nagorski, and two more off Adam Marra in the eighth, setting the stage for the fateful ninth.

The Leafs play undaunted baseball. After watching Barrie romp for six runs, they went right at it in the bottom of the ninth. Facing bearded legend Brad Grieveson, they loaded the bases. DH Ryan Santos hit into a fielder's choice to score a run, and a single by right fielder Yoichi Ishihara drove in another, but that's as far as the comeback would go. The Baycats walked off the field with a 12-10 victory.

Castaldo led the Leafs at the plate with three RBIs. Takamatsu's homer accounted for his two. Shortstop Jose Vinicio, Aidan McAskie, and centerfielder Connor Lewis each drove in a run.

In perhaps the most extreme case of a former Toronto Maple Leaf coming back to haunt the club as a member of the Barrie Baycats, reliever Chris Cox got the win. Cox pitched one season with the Leafs way back in 2011.

Barrie 12 12 3

Toronto 10 14 3

W - Cox (1-1, 5.62)

L - Valdez (2-6, 8.42)

BOXSCORE

Friday, August 4, 2023 - Toronto Maple Leafs at London Majors

Grant Tamane doing what he does best, driving in runs at Labatt Park -- part of a two-hit, two-RBI night on Friday. (image: London Majors YouTube)

The Maple Leafs' roller coaster week took a horrendous plummet Friday night in London.

Simply put, they got battered at Labatt (Memorial Park).

Legendary Majors killer Grant Tamane opened the scoring in the top of the second inning with an RBI single off London starter Wilbur Martinez.

It was mostly horrendous after that.

The Majors scored six runs in the bottom of the second and never looked back. Sam Greene was victimized there, and he battled through four innings on the night. His final line was eight earned runs off 11 hits, and he struck out six.

Left fielder Tamane stuck again in the top of the fourth, driving in a Leaf run on a fielder's choice. He was followed to the plate by right fielder Ryan Santos, who did the same. After four innings London led 8-3.

In the sixth inning... guess who! Tamane doubled to drive in a run and make it an 8-4 game.

London responded in the bottom of the inning with three runs off reliever Adam Marra. 11-4 through six.

In the top of the seventh, a couple of sac flies and a single brought the Leafs a bit closer, making it 11-7. But the Leafs ran out of runs after that. London piled on some more and strolled away with a 16-7 win.

Tamane ended up with two hits and two RBIs on the boxscore, but he no doubt lives on in the nightmares of London fans. DH Garrett Takamatsu, second baseman Dan Marra, and Santos each recorded an RBI on the night.

Toronto 7 13 0

London 16 20 1

W - Greene (3-2, 6.60)

L - Martinez (2-1, 9.00)

S - Reyes-Cruz (0-0, 8.30)

BOXSCORE

Sunday, August 6, 2023 - London Majors at Toronto Maple Leafs

J.J. Dutton joined the home run parade on Sunday as the Leafs blasted six round trippers against London.

Varsity Blues 21

Mustangs 10

If Friday night was horrendous, Sunday afternoon and its gridiron scoreline was glorious.

The day at Christie Pits began with the recognition of two figures from Toronto Maple Leafs history. First was Rob Butler, who continues to write history as the club's current field manager. Butler was presented a ceremonial bat to acknowledge his membership in the IBL's 100 All-Time Players Club. Following that, the Leafs welcomed back former manager Tim Harkness, whose record includes managing the 2002 IBL Champion Leafs, one of the most dominant clubs in league history.

The first pitch from starter Julian Valdez flew under a warm and mostly cloudy sky. Valdez put the first of several zeroes on the scoreboard.

The Majors, who appeared short on arms, sent reliever Skyler Janisse to the mound as an opener to start the bottom of the first. The firestarter, Jose Vinicio, led off. Toronto's speedy shortstop singled, stole second, and went to third when the throw bounced to the outfield. Catcher Justin Marra hit a sac fly and Vinicio trotted home. Second baseman Dan Marra doubled the Leafs tally by doubling home a run and the Leafs led 2-0 after one inning of play.

London icon Cleveland Brownlee made it a 2-1 game by swatting a home run off Valdez in the top of the second.

DH Jordan Castaldo responded for the Leafs in the bottom of the inning. He slapped a two-run double to give the Leafs a 4-1 lead through two.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Leafs began to question Janisse's movement on the mound, which may have failed to include coming to a set position. The umpire saw no fault, and Janisse cast some Cheshire grins towards the Leafs' bench. The Leafs responded by hitting four home runs in the inning and knocking Janisse out of the game. First, Vinicio hit a two-run blast. Justin Marra followed with a single, and then Castaldo hit a two-run shot. Next man up was third baseman Johnathan Solazzo. Yard. Next man up was first baseman Garrett Takamatsu. Yard. Janisse got the hook. With the smile gone from his face, he left the field, went right past the Majors bench and trudged all the way to the team clubhouse. The Leafs led 10-1 after three.

In the bottom of the fourth, centerfielder Connor Lewis drew a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and to third on a single by Vinicio. He then scored on a wild pitch by reliever Robert Mackie. 11-1 Mapes.

Valdez gave up another run before wrapping up the fifth inning. With an 11-2 lead, the Leafs bullpen took over.

Julian Tymochko pitched a scoreless sixth.

In the bottom of the inning, the Majors were down to position players on the mound. Keith Kandel loaded the bases, then hit pinch-hitter Robin Fox-Pappas with a pitch. Pinch hitter Grant Tamane drew a bases-loaded walk and it was 13-2.

Zach Sloan pitched a scoreless seventh.

In the bottom of the inning, a sac fly by Castaldo added another run. Tamane was hit by a bases-loaded pitch and the Leafs led 15-2 after seven.

In the top of the eighth, Evan Elliott took over from Sloan, and the Majors took him to task. Elliott laboured on the mound, walking four batters and hitting another. With the bases loaded and no outs, Adam Marra was given the onerous mission of putting out the fire. Marra battled, giving up two singles and a double. A sac fly followed, bringing London's eighth run of the inning across the plate. Marra then got a pair of Majors to fly out, ending the nightmare. With three outs left to them the Majors made it interesting at 15-10.

The Leafs responded in the best way. Left fielder J.J. Dutton led off with a solo home run, his first as a Leaf. Shortstop Yoishi Ishihara followed with a single, and was driven in by Castaldo with RBI number six on the day. Solazzo followed by going yard for the second time in the game. Left fielder Ryan Santos capped it off with a two-run single and the Leafs had their third touchdown of the game, 21-10.

Marra pitched a scoreless ninth to wrap things up. Valdez got the win and the Leafs roller coaster week ended with a big finish.

The Leafs hit six home runs on Sunday, much to the delight of the home crowd. Play-by-play man Thomas West had a blast calling all six of them for the Leafs broadcast.

London 10 8 2

Toronto 21 22 1

W - Valdez (3-6, 7.83)

L - Janisse (0-1, 9.11)

BOXSCORE