Leafs Get Soaked at the Pond

IBL Semifinals - Game 3 - September 4, 2023

Toronto Maple Leafs at Welland Jackfish

Welland 15

Toronto 3

Welland leads series 2-1

Semifinal series action at Welland Stadium. (file photo)

Letting 'em off the hook.  That's the theme of this semifinal series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Welland Jackfish.

For the second game in a row, Toronto relief pitching got swamped and the Fish won easy.  The final score of Game 3 played yesterday at Welland Stadium was 15-3.

The Leafs built up an early lead thanks to Justin Marra and Johnathan Solazzo both hitting their first home runs of the postseason.  Catcher Marra soloed in the first, and third baseman Solazzo soloed in the third.  Solazzo also hit an RBI single in the first.

Toronto starter Marek Deska gave up a run in the second.  Through three innings he had the upper hand over Welland starter Alberto Guerrero and the score was 3-1 Leafs.

The Jackfish dominated the rest of the way.  In the bottom of the fourth inning, Deska gave up six hits in a row.  He was relieved by Sam Greene, but by the end of a chaotic inning Welland had put five runs on the scoreboard and led 6-3.  

The brutality and chaos continued in the fifth.  Welland rang up five more runs as Greene gave way to Zach Sloan, who gave way to Julian Tymochko and they combined to give up three hits, four walks and a hit batsman.  That made it 11-3. 

In the bottom of the seventh saw Evan Elliott walk three, hit a batsman and throw a wild pitch.  Ryan Burnside came in and walked a couple more.  The Wellanders scored four more runs without recording a hit and the score was 15-3.

Leafs pitching could not hold back the tidal wave, and Leafs hitting barely made a ripple after the third inning.  They were blanked over the final six.  Guerrero got the win, Deska took the loss, and the Jackfish took a 2-1 series lead.

Toronto 3 10 1

Welland 15 12 0

W - Guerrero (2-0, 4.50)

L - Deska (0-1, 6.48)

BOXSCORE

This semifinal series returns to Toronto on Wednesday Night and the Leafs are facing elimination.  Game 4 at Christie Pits will start at 7:30 pm.

(file photo)