IBL Quarterfinals - Games 1 and 3 - August 27, 2023
Guelph Royals at Toronto Maple Leafs
Game 1 (resumed from Thursday)
Guelph 5
Toronto 0
Game 3
Toronto 6
Guelph 5
Toronto leads series 2-1
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| Justin Marra scores the go-ahead run in Game 3 -- the Leafs would take the win and the series lead. |
After a Thursday night thunderstorm forced a reshuffling of the quarterfinal series schedule, the Guelph Royals returned to Christie Pits to play out Game 1 and then do battle in Game 3.
Fans were treated to a Sunday split as the Toronto Maple Leafs lost one and won the other.
The Leafs have the opportunity to wrap the series up tomorrow night in Guelph. Until then, here's the recap of all the Sunday action.
Game 1
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| Claudio Custodio imposed himself on both halves of Game 1 to craft a complete game shutout. |
What Claudio Custodio began, Claudio Custodio ended.
After blanking the Leafs through four innings Thursday night, the Guelph Royals ace returned to the mound Sunday and finished off a complete game shutout of the Leafs.
When the thunderstorm rolled in and halted the game, the Royals were leading 2-0 in the fifth inning.
A first inning sac fly by Malik Collymore put them ahead, and a solo home run by Josh Garton made it 2-0 in the fifth.
Wilgenis Alvarado had started on the mound for Toronto. The two earned runs he surrendered on Thursday were in keeping with his IBL-leading average. However, the story of this game was Custodio's mastery on the mound.
Whether in stormy night or sunny day, the Leafs could barely make a mark on Guelph's hurler. He scattered seven hits and four walks, but struck out nine and strung nine goose eggs across the scoreboard. The Leafs stranded seven baserunners.
Marek Deska picked up the game on Sunday. He matched Custodio for scoreless innings until the ninth. A single by Garton added two more runs for Guelph, and an error by shortstop Jose Vinicio let another run cross the plate.
Guelph took the game 5-0 and Custodio took the win. Alvarado got the L. After a 30-minute intermission, the clubs returned to the field for Game 3.
Guelph 5 8 0
Toronto 0 7 2
W - Custodio (1-0, 0.00)
L - Alvarado (0-1, 3.60)
Game 3
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| Dustin gets dusted off by his teammates, after pitcher Richardson dove to catch a pop-up bunt for the first out of the ninth inning. |
The second game of the day, and third of the series, was a tight affair.
The Pits were stingy, yielding just one home run and that to the visitors. The Leafs hit several long flies that were caught at the fence. The game came down to which club could make the most of its opportunities.
Sunday starter Daniel Procopio toed the rubber against the Royals' Kyle Thomas, who was showered with heckling from the Bushmen all afternoon.
The Leafs got on the board first. In the bottom of the third inning, shortstop Jose Vinicio doubled, took third on a dropped third strike, and scored on a wild pitch. Skinny with the run, Bushmen with the assist.
Guelph got the run back in the top of the fourth, when Josh Garton led off with his second home run of the series.
Toronto reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the frame. Left fielder Jesse Hodges reached on an error. Second baseman Dan Marra singled. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch ("He doesn't like the noise! He doesn't like the noise!"). A sac fly by right fielder Gregory Carrington scored Hodges, and a double by Vinicio scored Marra. The rally made it 3-1 Leafs after four.
Procopio got into trouble in the top of the sixth, giving up three runs on four hits. The Royals went ahead 4-3.
In the top of the seventh, Malik Collymore doubled in a run off reliever Chris Nagorski. That gave the Royals a 5-3 lead and they began to dream of a Sunday sweep.
Toronto stormed back in the bottom of the seventh. Centerfielder Ryan Santos led off with a double, but he was erased on a fielder's choice that put Carrington on first. After enduring an afternoon of creative abuse from the hillside, Thomas was relieved by Yomar Concepcion. Guelph's dream immediately became a nightmare. Vinicio singled, catcher Justin Marra walked to load the bases, and first baseman Jordan Castaldo was hit by a pitch. One run was in and Guelph manager Dino Roumel was out with a quick hook. Concepcion was relieved by Brandon Deans. With the bases still loaded, DH Garrett Takamatsu singled in the tying run. Third baseman Johnathan Solazzo was up next, and he delivered the game-winning RBI on a groundout. Marra crossed the plate to give the Leafs a 6-5 lead through seven.
Toronto manager Rob Butler signaled for Adam Marra from the pen. Marra delivered a scoreless eighth. The Leafs failed to add to their lead in the bottom of the inning, and it was on to the ninth, Guelph's last chance to steal a sweep.
The tolling of a bell heralded the appearance of Leafs closer Dustin Richardson. Stone-faced and gigantic, he took to the mound. His first pitch was bunted high along the first base line. Richardson sprinted to the line and made a diving, rolling catch. Christie Pits went bananas. With Pigpen-like clouds of dust floating around him, Richardson took a few moments to compose himself while his teammates dusted him off. He returned to the mound and struck out the next batter. A harmless grounder produced the third out and the Leafs sealed the 6-5 victory. Nagorski scooped up the win, Richardson the save and Concepcion the loss.
Guelph 5 9 3
Toronto 6 8 2
W - Nagorski (1-0, 9.00)
L - Concepcion (0-1, 99.99)
S - Richardson (1)
The series returns to the Royal City on Tuesday night. The Leafs will be looking to close it out in Game 4. The first pitch at Hastings Stadium will be delivered at 7:30 pm.
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