Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - June 10 to 16, 2024
The Toronto Maple Leafs blasted seven home runs and took two games out of three to make Week 5 another winning week in this IBL season.
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| Johnathan Solazzo enjoys a home run trot on Father's Day as the Leafs cruised to another win. (Image: Carter Smith / Insta: @cartersvizion ) |
Bombs away!
This week in Toronto Maple Leafs baseball was all about the long ball.
On Thursday and Sunday, the boys in blue tee'd off on pitching and racked up seven homers.
The one game where they were kept in the yard went for a loss.
"All or nothing" continues to be the theme of Maple Leafs baseball in this 2024 season. The fun ride goes on as the Leafs make a slow but steady climb towards the top half of the IBL standings.
And now, here is a recap of Week 5 in Toronto Maple Leafs baseball.
Thursday, June 13, 2024 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Kitchener Panthers
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| Ryan Dos Santos completes his second round trip of the game on a two-homer, three-RBI night in K-town. (Image: Panthers Baseball Online) |
No one on the Toronto Maple Leafs roster is harder on himself than outfielder Ryan Dos Santos.
Most ballplayers fail at the plate somewhere between seven and eight times out of 10. Most players respond to failure with a silent stomp back to the bench. Some of the more demonstrative will slam a bat or helmet. When Dos Santos fails, he lets himself have it. During his seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, I've heard him chew himself out after fly outs, express disgust with himself after ground outs, and announce he's ready to quit the game after strike outs.
But he perseveres. We all persevere. Ryan Dos Santos is all of us.
Thursday night at Jack Couch Park, Dos Santos' perseverance paid off. He lit up the scoreboard with a pair of home runs and drove in three on the night as the Leafs defeated the Kitchener Panthers 10-8.
First baseman Jordan Castaldo and right fielder Marcus Knecht also homered for the Leafs and drove in a pair of runs each. Shortstop Jose Vinicio drove in two, and DH Justin Marra recorded one RBI.
On the mound, Wilgenis Alvarado battled into the seventh inning, giving up five runs on eight hits while striking out seven. The reigning IBL ERA leader still has a bloated 6.65 earned run average on the season.
After nine innings, the Leafs and Panthers were tied 7-7. In the top of the tenth, Knecht hit an RBI single and Vinicio doubled to drive in a pair to put the game away.
With the Leafs ahead 10-7, reliever Dustin Richardson gave up a run but no more than that. The Leafs held on for a 10-8 FINAL. Richardson got the win in relief.
Toronto 10 10 0
Kitchener 8 14 0
W - Richardson (1-0, 0.00)
L - Vasquez (1-2, 4.00)
Friday, June 14, 2024 - Toronto Maple Leafs at London Majors
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| Jordan Castaldo slides safely into second after hitting a two-run double in the Leafs' ninth inning rally in London. (Image: London Majors YouTube) |
On Friday night in London it was Jesse Hodges on the mound for the Mapes, facing off against newcomer Travis Keys.
It was Keys who had the better night, giving up just one run over seven. Hodges battled into the sixth but gave up seven runs, six earned.
The Leafs' lone run in the early going came in the third inning, when shortstop Jose Vinicio singled and was driven in by catcher Justin Marra.
Down 7-1 after seven innings, the Leafs spiced things up late. Right fielder Marcus Knecht drove in a run in the eighth inning. In the ninth, the Leafs rallied for two more as first baseman Jordan Castaldo drove in a pair. That would be all, however, as London made off with a 7-4 FINAL.
Toronto 4 10 1
London 7 10 0
W - Keys (3-0, 2.76)
L - Hodges (0-1, 4.61)
Sunday, June 16, 2024 - Brantford Red Sox vs Toronto Maple Leafs
On Father's Day, the Maple Leafs returned to Christie Pits and took the Brantford Red Sox out behind the shed.
The Leafs administered an 11-5 whupping to the visitors in a game that was never close.
Angel Castro shook off the rust from his season debut and pitched a one-hitter through six innings while striking out eight.
If opposing starter Ricardo Alvarez DeLugo had been a minor, his treatment at the hands of the Leafs would have been flagged as child abuse. He lasted just 2 2/3 innings and was hit six times for seven runs.
Ill-advised metaphors aside, the Leafs enjoyed an easy win at the Pits. Brantford rallied for five runs late in the game, but by then it was too late. Taylor Lepard made his return to Christie Pits and pitched the ninth inning for Toronto, who took an 11-5 FINAL.
Third baseman Johnathan Solazzo led the way at the plate, hitting his third home run of the season and driving in three runs. DH Justin Marra and pinch hitter Connor Lewis also cleared the fence. Marra hit a solo shot while Lewis hit a two-run bomb.
Castro took his first win of the season and the Leafs ended the weekend on a winning note.
Brantford 5 5 1
Toronto 11 13 2
W - Castro (1-1, 4.09)
L - Alvarez DeLugo (0-1, 6.23)
Midway through the month of June, the Maple Leafs continue their steady climb with a 6-9 record. They sit in sixth place in the IBL standings, 5 1/2 games behind the Welland Jackfish.
In the week ahead, the Leafs hit their busiest stretch of the season with with four games in five days. They also have a great opportunity to leapfrog Hamilton into fifth place with a pair of games against the Cardinals coming up this week.
Wednesday, June 19 - Guelph Royals vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 PM at Christie Pits (rescheduled rainout)
Friday, June 21 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Hamilton Cardinals, 7:35 PM on the Mountain
Saturday, June 22 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Welland Jackfish, 6:05 PM at the Pond
Sunday, June 23 - Hamilton Cardinals vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 2:00 PM at Christie Pits
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