Canada Day Closure

Game 22: Toronto Maple Leafs at London Majors - July 1, 2016

Majors win 7-3

The Toronto Maple Leafs can't catch a break whenever they play on July 1st.  I mean seriously, it feels like they've lost about a thousand Canada Day games in a row.*

After jumping out to a quick 3-0 lead against the London Majors at Labatt Memorial Park, the Leafs got shut down for the rest of the game.  London starter Elis Jimenez held the Leafs to just five hits over eight innings while striking out nine.

Justin Marra and Will Richards combined for a single and a double to put a run on the board in the second inning.  The Leafs squeezed two more runs out of Jimenez, first when he hit Ryan White with a pitch with the bases loaded, and then on a Connor Lewis groundout with the bases still loaded.

Justin Cicatello got off to a strong start on the mound for Toronto, but the Majors started chipping away in the third and fourth innings to take the lead and never look back.  The Leafs could only muster two hits after the second inning, and fell 7-3 in the Forest City.

* It's been three.


Game Recap:


On a sunny but cool Canada Day Friday, the London Majors hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs for their annual July 1st classic.  The Majors took the field in blazing red hats and jerseys, and the Leafs worse their traditional blues.

Elis Jimenez was the starter for London against Justin Cicatello for the Mapes.  Each man pitched a perfect inning to start the game.

Toronto got on the board first in the top of the 2nd.  DH Justin Marra led off with a single, advanced on a wild pitch by Jimenez, then scored on a double by catcher Will Richards.  Jimenez got into some more trouble as he gave up a walk to third baseman Johnathan Solazzo and a single to first baseman Damon Topolie to load the bases.  He then hit shortstop Ryan White with a pitch.  That brought in the second run of the inning.  With the bases still loaded, centerfielder Connor Lewis hit into a groundout, but that brought in another run and the Leafs were off to a 3-0 lead after two innings.

The Majors tied the game in the bottom of the 3rd.  Leftfielder Humberto Ruiz led off with a walk, then stole second (the first of six stolen bases by London on the day).  A single by third baseman Carlos Arteaga drove in Ruiz.  Arteaga then stole second, and he came in to score on a double by second baseman RJ Fuhr.  The next man up was centerfielder Byron Reichstein, and he drove in Fuhr with a single to make it 3-3 through three.

The bottom of the 4th saw London put three more runs on the board.  Catcher Michael Ambrose was hit by a Cicatello pitch to start the inning.  Rightfielder LeJon Baker singled next, and a single by Ruiz would bring both runners in to score.  Ruiz stole second again, then scored on a single by Arteaga that made it 6-3 London after four innings of play.

London added another run in the bottom of the 5th.  Reichstein led off with a single, then advanced to second on a sac bunt by first baseman Kyle Gormandy.  A single by Ambrose plated Reichstein, and the Majors led 7-3 through five.

Jimenez cruised through eight innings and struck out nine before handing the ball over to Brett Sabourin.  He struck out the side and finished off a 7-3 FINAL for the Majors.


Toronto 3-5-0
London 7-10-0

W - Jimenez (5-0, 2.81)
L - Cicatello (3-2, 5.16)


BOXSCORE


With the Canada Day loss, the Leafs dip below .500 with a 10-11 record.  They remain in 5th place in the IBL standings, and their next game will be back home at Christie Pits on Sunday, July 3rd against the Bandits of Burlington.

Leafs Edged Late by Panthers

Game 21: Kitchener Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs - June 29, 2016

Panthers win 7-5

On a night when Sean Reilly was poised to break the IBL's all-time home run record, his bat fell mostly silent.  Reilly went 1 for 4 with a single as the Toronto Maple Leafs hosted his Kitchener Panthers at Christie Pits last night.

The silent slugger had decimated the single-season IBL home run record as a member of the Maple Leafs in 2013, in an unforgettable three-homer game at the Pits.  As for the all-time record, it will likely be broken at another ballpark.

Instead, Reilly's teammates held a home run derby on his behalf.  They knocked four homers out of the park last night, including a game winning grand slam by Tanner Nivins.  The salami by Nivins allowed Kitchener to overtake the Leafs in the top of the 9th and hang on for a 7-5 victory.

It was a disappointing result after a feisty, closely-fought battle between two hard-slugging teams.  Kitchener and Toronto entered the night as the IBL's top two home run hitting clubs.  They would combine for five on the night, and the game was decided on the late blast by Nivins.

Brett van Pelt pitched six innings for the Leafs before handing a 3-3 tie over to Dillon Mulholland.  An RBI double by Sean Mattson in the bottom of the 8th gave the Leafs a 4-3 lead, but the Panthers rallied for 4 runs in the 9th and grabbed the win.  Marek Deska was hung with the loss after giving up the fateful pitch to Nivins.

Both clubs saw players ejected from the game.  Kitchener second baseman Mike Andrulis was tossed for questioning the home plate ump's career path, and Leafs DH Damon Topolie got the heave for being overly-critical of an infield ump's choice of cologne.  Touchy there, Blue.


Game Recap:


As a blazing sun set over Christie Pits, the Toronto Maple Leafs hosted the Kitchener Panthers in a Wednesday night matchup.  Brett van Pelt took to the mound for the home side, facing off against Ian Rendon.

The first three innings of the game were scoreless.

Panthers first baseman David Whiteside broke the ice for Kitchener with a solo home run in the top of the 4th.

Leafs first baseman Johnathan Solazzo doubled to lead off the bottom of the inning.  He advanced to third on a single by shortstop Ryan White, and scored on a sac fly by centerfielder Connor Lewis.  1-1 after four innings of play.

The Leafs took the lead in the bottom of the 5th.  Rightfielder Jon Waltenbury led off with a single off Rendon.  Catcher Will Richards doubled him home for a 2-1 Toronto lead.

Kitchener demonstrated why they lead the IBL in home runs, hitting a pair of solo shots off van Pelt in the top of the 6th.  Rightfielder Terrell Alliman and second baseman Mike Gordner went back-to-back and gave the Panthers a 3-2 lead midway through the 6th.

The home run derby continued in the bottom of the 6th when Lewis bashed one out for Toronto to tie the game at 3 apiece.

Both clubs turned it over to their bullpens for the final three innings of the game.  Yuji Suzuki got one out in the 6th and pitched a scoreless 7th.  Dillon Mulholland relieved van Pelt and retired the side, keeping the score 3-3 through seven.

Mulholland pitched another scoreless frame in the top of the 8th.

Mike Schnurr came in to pitch the 8th for Kitchener.  After a couple of strikeouts to start the inning, Waltenbury battled him for a walk, then rampaged all the way home on a double by third baseman Sean Mattson.  4-3 Leafs headed into the 9th.

Mulholland gave up a single to catcher Frank Camilo Morejon to start the 9th.  Marek Deska then relieved him.  Deska walked pinch hitter Justin Interisano, and Kitchener loaded the bases when leftfielder Jonathan Brouse reached first on a sac bunt attempt that was fielded for an error by Solazzo at first.  That set the stage for centerfielder Tanner Nivins, who hit a grand slam that made it 7-4 Kitchener midway through the 9th.

The Leafs battled back in the bottom of the 9th.  Second baseman Dan Marra led off with a single off of new pitcher Iannick Remillard.  Solazzo hit into a fielder's choice, erasing Marra at second.  Pinch hitter Justin Marra flew out for out number two.  White then singled to keep the game alive, and Lewis drew a walk to load the bases.  A single by leftfielder Grant Tamane scored Solazzo.  But that would be all for the Leafs as Waltenbury flew out for the final out and Kitchener sealed a 7-5 FINAL over Toronto.


Kitchener 7-10-1
Toronto 5-15-1

W - Schnurr (1-0, 4.28)
L - Deska (0-1, 2.70)
S - Remillard (2)


BOXSCORE


The loss drops the Maple Leafs back to .500 with a 10-10 record.  They sit in 5th place in the IBL standings.  Their next game will be on the road in London on Canada Day, when they will play the Majors at Labatt Memorial Park.

Mid-Season Maple Leafs Leaderboard

As July approaches and the 2016 IBL season ticks past the halfway point, the Toronto Maple Leafs have posted a 10-9 record, good for 5th place in the IBL standings.

That is virtually identical to their record last year.  Fans will recall that the Leafs went on a decent playoff run in 2015, so there's that to look forward to.

Here is the Toronto Maple Leafs' mid-season leaderboard.


BATTING LEADERS

JON WALTENBURY

BATTING AVG.
.421  J. WALTENBURY
.417  M. BLAIR-BROWN
.412  C. LEWIS
.373  S. MATTSON
.360  D. TOPOLIE

ON BASE PERCENTAGE
.563  M. BLAIR-BROWN
.488  J. WALTENBURY
.457  S. MATTSON
.444  C. LEWIS
.444  J. GUZMAN

HOME RUNS
6  J. WALTENBURY
5  J. MARRA
5  S. MATTSON
4  J. SOLAZZO
3  R. WHITE

RBIs
19  J. WALTENBURY
17  J. MARRA
17  S. MATTSON
16  J. SOLAZZO
12  R. WHITE

STOLEN BASES
4  C. LEWIS
2  T. DARING
2  D. MARRA
2  G. TAMANE
1  J. SOLAZZO



PITCHING LEADERS


JUSTIN CICATELLO

WINS
3  J. CICATELLO
3  D. MULHOLLAND
1  D. ERTL
1  M. FIORINI
1  A. GARNER
1  B. VAN PELT

ERA (STARTERS)
4.00  D. ERTL
4.05  J. CICATELLO
5.21  D. MULHOLLAND

ERA (RELIEVERS)
0.00  A. GARNER
1.00  M. DESKA
4.50  M. WAGNER

STRIKEOUTS
27  J. CICATELLO
22  D. MULHOLLAND
21  H. RUMION

SAVES
1  M. FIORINI
1  A. GARNER
1  M. WAGNER



The Maple Leafs' next game will be tonight at Christie Pits, when they host the Kitchener Panthers. 

Cardinal Punishment

Game 20: Hamilton Cardinals at Toronto Maple Leafs - June 26, 2016

Leafs win 9-0

From the Mountain to the Pits, the Toronto Maple Leafs dished out a weekend of punishment to the Hamilton Cardinals.  

Following a 13-3 win Friday night in Steel City, the Leafs completed the home-and-home sweep this afternoon with a 9-0 victory at Christie Pits.

Dillan Mulholland mowed through the Cards lineup, surrendering just two hits over seven innings.  David Ertl and Adam Garner each pitched an inning to secure the shutout.

At the plate and on the basepaths it was a total team effort as everyone in the lineup made a contribution.

Justin Marra led the assault, driving in five runs off three hits including a home run.  Sean Mattson had a pair of hits and two RBIs.  Connor Lewis and Dan Marra each notched a pair of hits, and player-manager Damon Topolie drove in a run.

Just about the only thing that was "off" today was the Christie hillside itself.  A lack of rain this month has left the surrounding grass looking parched and pale.

For the Leafs, a pair of wins against the Redbirds was just what the doctor ordered, giving them some momentum heading into this week as they face the two clubs at the top of the IBL standings, Kitchener and London.  

Game Recap:

The Toronto Maple Leafs welcomed the Hamilton Cardinals to Christie Pits for the second game of a home-and-home weekend series.  Dillan Mulholland got the ball for the Mapes, against Robert Wilson for the Redbirds.

A pitchers duel ensued over the first four innings, as Mulholland and Wilson traded goose eggs.  After four innings, Wilson had given up three hits and Mulholland just one.

Toronto broke the ice in the bottom of the 5th.  Shortstop Ryan White singled to lead off the inning.  Centerfielder Connor Lewis followed with a single.  Leftfielder advanced the runners on a groundout.  Third baseman Sean Mattson was walked to load the bases and bring catcher Justin Marra to the plate.  Marra seized the opportunity and singled to drive in White and Lewis.  Second baseman Dan Marra was up next and he singled.  A fielding error by Hamilton allowed Mattson to score and make it 3-0 Leafs after five.

The Leafs doubled the score in the following inning.  DH Damon Topolie led off with a walk.  Benson Merritt then relieved Wilson on the mound for Hamilton.  White was up next, and he sac bunted Topolie to second.  Merritt then walked Lewis and Tamane to load the bases and end his afternoon.  Russ Burroughs was next in to pitch.  He got rightfielder Jon Waltenbury to fly out, but then gave up a 2-run single to Mattson, allowing Topolie and Lewis to score.  Justin Marra singled next to score Tamane and make it a 6-0 game through six.

First baseman Johnathan Solazzo doubled to lead off the bottom of the 7th.  A single by Topolie brought him home to make it 7-0 Leafs through seven.

After giving up just two hits over seven innings, Mulholland handed the ball over to David Ertl, who faced just three batters to get through the top of the 8th.

TJ Baker took over for Burroughs to start the bottom of the inning.  After getting a couple of outs on either side of a single to Waltenbury, Baker gave up a home run to Justin Marra.  That gave Marra five RBIs on the day and it brought Darek Bishop to the mound to relieve Baker.  There was no further damage, but the Leafs led 9-0 after 8 innings.

Adam Garner came in to pitch the 9th inning for Toronto, and he tossed a scoreless frame to lock down the 9-0 FINAL for the Leafs.  And there was much high fiving.

Hamilton 0-4-2

Toronto 9-13-2

W - Mulholland (3-2, 5.21)

L - Wilson (1-3, 8.60)

BOXSCORE

The Maple Leafs are now 10-9 and in 5th place in the IBL Standings.  Next up, they will welcome the league-leading Kitchener Panthers to Christie Pits on Wednesday, June 29th.