IBL Quarterfinals - Game 2 - August 26, 2023
Toronto Maple Leafs at Guelph Royals
Toronto 5
Guelph 3
(10 innings)
Toronto leads series 1-0
 |
| Garrett Takamatsu launches the game-winning home run high and far into the Guelph night. (image: Guelph Royals YouTube) |
Even from the rudimentary backstop camera view at Hastings Stadium, you could see the strikeouts taking their toll on Garrett Takamatsu.
First inning, K swinging. Third inning, K swinging. Sixth inning, K swinging.
After he struck out swinging in the eighth inning, the Toronto Maple Leafs left fielder stomped back to the team dugout. His body language suggested he was contemplating hurling his bat deep into the moonlit night, never to be found again.
For nine innings, the quarterfinal contest between the Leafs and Guelph Royals was a frustrating affair.
The Leafs approached each at bat like zombies. Shuffling to the plate, striking out, shuffling back to the bench. Guelph pitcher Hector Yan appeared to be having a career night. Through the first six innings, he held the Leafs to a single run while striking out a mind-boggling 15 batters.
That lone Leafs run came in the top of the second, with some help from Guelph. Second baseman Dan Marra drew a walk off Yan, was granted second on a balk, took third on a wild pitch, then scored on a flyball by rightfielder Yoichi Ishihara. What looked like a routine play was dropped by outfielder Ashton Patterson. Ishihara was safe and the Leafs led 1-0.
In the bottom of the second, DH Justin Interisano tied the score with a solo home run off starter Jesse Hodges.
Guelph took the lead in the bottom of the third. With two men aboard, Malik Collymore singled home a run to make it 2-1.
While he couldn't match Yan's lawnmower job, Hodges put up a good fight. He pitched into the sixth and struck out five batters. After issuing a walk to Collymore to start the sixth, he was relieved by Sam Greene. A sac fly would score Collymore and close the book on Hodges' night. He was good, but the Leafs' bats needed to wake up or he'd be tagged with an L.
Toronto rallied to tie the game in the top of the seventh, once again with some help from Guelph. Yan ran out of gas, but not before striking out his sixteenth batter of the night. Ishihara walked to start the inning and scored on a double by shortstop Jose Vinicio. Yuki Narita came on in relief of Yan. With catcher Justin Marra at the plate, Vinicio broke for third on a 1-0 pitch. The throw from Brendan Keys went past third and into left field. Vinicio picked himself up and scampered home. Tie game, 3-3!
The relief corps on both sides hunkered down. Greene pitched into the ninth before handing the ball to Dustin Richardson. Narita battled on. There was no further scoring through nine and the game headed to extras.
Top of the tenth, first baseman Jordan Castaldo led off with a single. That brought Takamatsu to the plate for the fifth time, golden sombrero weighing down on his head. But with one golden swing, Takamatsu changed the course of the game. He smashed a Narita pitch high and deep over the centerfield fence for a two-run homer. From goat to GOAT. Tak danced the bases and bashed every available forearm on his way back to the dugout. The Leafs were back ahead, 5-3.
Richardson dashed Guelph's hopes for a comeback. He gave up a single, struck out two, and ended the game by getting the Royals' final batter to pop out to right.
Zombies victorious. Tak's jack was the difference maker. Richardson took the win, Narita got the loss.
It was a kind of win to give the Leafs the momentum they need to take the series. A quick turnaround has these clubs back at it at Christie Pits later today. At noon, they will play out the rest of Game 1. That game was suspended in the fifth inning Thursday night with Guelph ahead 2-0. Once that one is completed, Game 3 will be played. Huge scenes in the offing today, in what might go down in history as Super Pits Sunday.
Toronto 5 7 2
Guelph 3 9 2
W - Richardson (1-0, 0.00)
L - Narita (0-1, 4.90)
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