Week 3 in Maple Leafs baseball was tough sledding.
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| The Leafs were back in action and found beating the league leaders no little task. |
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| Newcomer Nick Veselinovic's first home start resulted in a no-decision. |
The Barrie Baycats chose violence.
This week, the Toronto Maple Leafs hosted their first Wednesday Nighter of the season.
The Baycats came to Christie Pits and hit five home runs, including a grand slam, to win a 13-3 laugher.
Early on, it didn't look like the game would go that way.
In the bottom of the first inning, right fielder Marcus Knecht worked a full count off starter Frank Garces, then deposited the next pitch over the fence with a solo swat. The Leafs banged out three more hits including a double by DH Yasiel Puig, and roared out to a 3-0 lead.
There was barely time to enjoy the advantage. In the top of the second, crash! Barrie roared back with three runs off starter Nick Veselinovic, including a homer by Francisco Hernandez. The game was tied 3-3 after two frames.
Veselinovic pitched one more scoreless frame, then departed.
In the top of the fourth, reliever Rolando Hermida took the mound for the home side and surrendered back-to-back home runs to Noah Hull and Canice Ejoh. That put the 'Cats ahead 5-3 and there they would stay.
In the top of the sixth, Hull hit his second home run of the day off reliever Ben Sitarenios to make it a 7-3 game.
Wilgenis Alvarado and Graham Sim each pitched a scoreless inning for Toronto, as fans hoped for a late rally. After that big first inning, the Leafs were unable to bring any more runs across the plate. Not for lack of trying. They recorded 10 hits on the night and stranded nine runners.
Instead, it was the visitors who capped off the night with a rally. In the ninth inning, reliever Ryan Capuano gave up four hits and a pair of walks. Barrie scored six runs and Nolan Machibroda delivered the final blow with a grand slam.
In the bottom of the ninth, pinch hitter Ben Sterritt doubled off of the ageless Brad Grieveson but that would be the final futile action for the Leafs who went down in a 13-3 FINAL. Garces went five-plus innings for the win. Veselinovic escaped with a no-decision while Hermida took the loss.
One bright spot in the evening was the first glimpse of new sleeveless hoodies sported by Leafs players. Baby blue with royal blue trim, they are a reverse-retro-city-connect kind of thing.
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| Ducks on the pond? Leafs shortstop Yordan Manduley is backed up by some feathered friends. (image: London Majors YouTube) |
The Mapes recorded a pair of singles and a double by shortstop Yordan Manduley in a 6-2 loss to the London Majors.
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| Justin Gideon opened the scoring with a first inning homer. |
Yoilan Quinonez pitched five shutout innings for the Jackfish, scattering 6 hits and walking none. He struck out three.
The Leafs were frustratingly consistent across those first five:
1st: single, runner stranded
2nd: single, runner stranded
3rd: 2 singles, runner stranded
4th: single, runner stranded
5th: single, runner stranded.
It was a rough outing for Martinez. He also went five but gave up five runs (four earned) off of seven hits and no walks. He struck out four.
Through five, the Jackfish enjoyed a 5-0 lead. The rest of the game belonged to Wilgenis Alvarado. He pitched the last four innings for Toronto, giving up five hits and a walk while striking out three.
In the bottom of the eighth, the home side finally put together some action. Catcher Matt Brandt led off with a solo blast over the Solazzo Wall, his second of the season, off reliever Danny Howat. First baseman Matt Fabian followed with a double. The next man up was centerfielder J.J. Dutton and he also doubled to bring home Fabian. Fans liked this action! Owen Ozanich took to the mound to put out the fire, and the score was 5-2 after eight innings.
In the top of the ninth, the 'Fish grabbed one more run to make it a 6-2 game.
Bottom nine, the Leafs gave it the old college try. Second baseman Spenser Ross and Fabian both hit singles, but in keeping with the pattern of the day they both remained stranded after three outs. Welland took the 6-2 FINAL and Quinonez got the win. Martinez, who has claimed the "Sunday starter" role at the Pits, suffered his second loss of the season.
And that makes it a five-game losing streak for the Leafs.
