Early Surge Burns Leafs

Game 31: London Majors at Toronto Maple Leafs - July 17, 2016

Majors win 5-3

Weird day at the Pits.  Hot, sluggish.  

The park is jam-packed with people enjoying a Sunday afternoon.  Sunbathers and picnickers.  Frisbees and soccer balls.  Kids and dogs.

Something feels off, though.  

Why isn't that pool open?  Something in the water?

Apparently they are still working on it.  Soon come pool. 

At the diamond, the "off" feelings resonate strongest.  All the familiar faces are there.  The crazies encircling the infield, the old man on the hill, the owner in his box.

The game starts, and time accelerates.  The London Majors jump out to an early lead in the first.  They add another run in the second.  The Leafs have barely gotten into it.  The owner starts hurling thunderbolts like Zeus from Mount Olympus.

Weird game.  There's no clock in baseball, but the innings speed by.  The Leafs wait until the eighth and ninth before putting some runs on the board, but by this point it's too late.   The game is over, London has won 5-3, but it feels like things had barely gotten started.

Even this entry is weird.  Take that photo above -- Dan Marra, bending down to tag out a basestealer.  That was in the ninth inning, when things already felt decided and the play didn't make any difference to the score.  

But there's Marra in a classic pose, bent down with the quiet calm of a man plucking a weed from his garden.  I like the image.  

Wait, is that Drew Taylor warming up in the pen?

Maybe this whole day was a dream.  Maybe it's time to WAKE UP!


Game Recap:


A hot and partly cloudy afternoon saw the Toronto Maple Leafs host the London Majors at Christie Pits.  Justin Cicatello was on the mound for Toronto against Elis Jimenez.

The first two innings set the pace for London.  Centerfielder Chris McQueen led off the top of the 1st with a walk.  Cicatello then hit shortstop Keith Kandel with a pitch.  Both runners advanced on a double steal, and a single by catcher Michael Ambrose drove in McQueen.  First baseman Cleveland Brownlee was up next, and he singled in Kandel.  Rightfielder LeJon Baker then grounded into a double play, but Ambrose crossed home plate to make it 3-0 Majors after one.

In the top of the 2nd, third baseman Carlos Arteaga reached first on a single, then advanced two bases on a throwing error by Cicatello.  A single by second baseman RJ Fuhr drove in Arteaga and it was 4-0 Majors after two.

Jimenez made short work of the Leafs' bats on the afternoon, holding them to five hits over the first seven innings.  The home side missed their best opportunity of the day in the bottom of the 5th when they loaded the bases with none out.  Jimenez then struck out two batters and escaped the inning on a groundout.

London tacked on one more run in the top of the 8th.  McQueen reached first safely, on Cicatello's second error of the day.  That was followed by a single by Kandel.  The Majors attempted another double steal, but McQueen got caught in a rundown and was eventually tagged out by third baseman Grant Tamane.  With Kandel standing on second, Brownlee drove him in again with his third single of the day.  That made it 5-0 Majors midway through the 8th.

The Leafs offence finally cracked Jimenez in the bottom of the 8th.  Centerfielder Connor Lewis led off with a single and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Tamane.  He moved to third on a put out by DH Jon Waltenbury, and scored on an RBI single by catcher Justin Marra.  5-1 London through eight.

David Ertl relieved Cicatello and pitched a scoreless 9th for Toronto.

Cory Hammond came in to close it down for London in the bottom of the 9th, but not before the Leafs mounted a late rally.  Second baseman Dan Marra singled to start the inning.  First baseman Damon Topolie drew a walk, and Matt Blair-Brown took his place at first as a pinch runner.  Leftfielder Brendan Keys then singled, and Marra stormed home when the ball was misplayed in the outfield.  Blair-Brown moved to third on the play, and he raced home on a wild pitch by Hammond.  But there would be no magical comeback this day, as London wrapped it up for a 5-3 FINAL.


London 5-12-2
Toronto 3-9-2

W - Jimenez (6-1, 2.97)
L - Cicatello (3-4, 5.43)


BOXSCORE


The loss drops the Maple Leafs back to .500 with a 15-15 record, good for 5th place in the IBL standings.  They will return to the Pits this Wednesday night, July 20, to play a rainout makeup game against the Burlington Bandits.

Maple Leaf Hurlers Shut Down London

Game 30: Toronto Maple Leafs at London Majors - July 15, 2016

Leafs win 5-0

                                                                                                                                                                                           FILE PHOTO

Marek Deska has had himself a week.

Last Sunday, he pitched 4.2 innings of lights-out relief and earned a win for the Toronto Maple Leafs in an 11-6 victory over Guelph.

Making the start tonight at Labatt Memorial Park, a dominant Deska struck out 13 over seven innings and led the Leafs to a 5-0 shutout of the London Majors.  

Adam Garner pitched the final two innings and slammed the door on London.

Grant Tamane led the way with a pair of RBIs.  Connor Lewis, Will Richards and Damon Topolie drove in one run each.


Game Recap:


For the second night in a row, the Toronto Maple Leafs started a night game half an hour late.  This time it was because of "traffic issues" on the 401 en route to London to play the Majors.

A short bench for the Leafs saw Adam Marra starting in left field, Grant Tamane at third, and Cam Gray in as the DH.  

Marek Deska was on the mound for the Leafs against Owen Boon for the Majors.  Before the night was over, Deska would also see action at the plate.

Deska and Boon traded scoreless innings in the 1st and 2nd.

Boon walked shortstop Ryan White and Adam Marra to start the 3rd.  Gray sacrificed them over, and White scored on a single by centerfielder Connor Lewis.  Lewis stole second, and then both he and Marra were driven in on a two-RBI single by Tamane.  That put the Leafs ahead 3-0 after three innings of play.

When he wasn't racking up K's (13 on the night), Deska was drawing walks.  He went to bat in place of Gray in the 5th and Boon walked him on five pitches.

Toronto added another run in the 6th.  Rightfielder Jon Waltenbury singled and moved to second on a fielding error in the outfield.  He then stole third, and was driven in on a single by catcher Will Richards.  4-0 Leafs through six.

The Leafs extended their lead in the top of the 8th.  Second baseman Dan Marra singled, and first baseman Damon Topolie smacked a double to drive him in and make it 5-0 Leafs.

After seven shutout innings, Deska turned it over to Adam Garner to pitch the bottom of the 8th.  Garner faced the minimum and the Majors were down to their final three outs.

In the bottom of the 9th, London got one man aboard but Garner slammed the door on a 5-0 FINAL for Toronto.


Toronto 5-7-1
London 0-7-1

W - Deska (2-1, 1.56)
L - Boon (4-1, 2.41)


BOXSCORE


Toronto's 15-14 record maintains their hold on 5th place in the IBL standings.  The Triple Blues return to Christie Pits on Sunday, July 17 when they host these same Londonians.

Mapes Lose a Messy One

Game 29: Toronto Maple Leafs at Kitchener Panthers - July 14, 2016

Panthers win 14-6

Messy marathon in K-Dub last night.  

The game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Kitchener Panthers started a half hour late and didn't end until after eleven-thirty.  Three or four waves of rain washed over Jack Couch Park during the evening, leaving the field, fans and players all wet.  

Midway through the night, the pitcher's mound had degenerated into a slip and slide, requiring several minutes of repair work by the grounds crew.

Emulating the poor conditions on the field, the Leafs put in a messy effort.  Three fielding errors, a bunch of 0-fer performances by the big bats, and One Big Inning surrendered to the Panthers that put the game out of reach.

Kitchener took the victory 14-6.

It was a tight game for the first three-and-a-half innings.  The Leafs carried a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the fourth, but the Panthers exploded for seven runs in their half of the inning and ran away with it.

Connor Lewis, Ryan White and Justin Marra each drove in a pair of runs.  Marra's came courtesy of a sixth inning home run -- his team-leading tenth of the season.


Game Recap:


After a late afternoon rain shower caused a half hour delay, the Kitchener Panthers hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs at Jack Couch Park.  On the mound were Ian Rendon and Brett van Pelt.

The Panthers grabbed an early lead in the first.  Centerfielder Tanner Nivins reached safely on an error to start the inning.  That was followed by a single by shortstop Mike Glinka and a walk to DH Sean Reilly.  With the bases loaded, first baseman David Whiteside grounded into a fielder's choice that scored Nivins and made it 1-0 Kitchener after one inning of play.

Rendon and van Pelt traded scoreless innings in the 2nd and 3rd.

In the top of the 4th, first baseman Damon Topolie singled to lead off.  Second baseman Dan Marra followed with a double, and leftfielder Grant Tamane was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Shortstop Ryan White was up next, and he hit a grounder to third baseman Luke Baker, who threw Topolie out at home.  Connor Lewis then hit a two run single past Glinka, allowing Marra and Tamane to score.  That gave the Leafs a 2-1 lead midway through the 4th.

The Panthers pounced on van Pelt in the bottom of the 4th, sending twelve men to the plate and scoring seven runs.   Catcher Frank Camilo Morejon started it off with a single.  Van Pelt was called for a balk, and Morejon moved to second.  Second baseman Mike Andrulis singled him home.  Rightfielder Ryan Douse and Baker both singled next.  With the bases loaded, van Pelt walked leftfielder Jonathan Brouse and Andrulis crossed home plate.  Nivins was up next and he reached first on an error that allowed Douse to score.  Glinka cleared the bases with a single to right field that got past rightfielder Jon Waltenbury for an error.  Glinka was then driven in on a single by Reilly.  When it was finally over, Kitchener had roared out to an 8-2 lead through four.

The Leafs started chipping away immediately.  Topolie reached first on an error.  Dan Marra singled and Tamane walked to load them up.  White then hit a two-run single that brought in Topolie and Marra, making it 8-4 midway through the 5th.

In the bottom of the 5th, Baker walked and stole second to start the inning.  Brouse drove him in with a double.  A single by Whiteside would bring home Brouse.  Cam Gray came in from the bullpen to relieve van Pelt, and he got out of the inning, but Kitchener led 10-4 after the 5th.

Yuji Suzuki came on in relief of Rendon to start the 6th.  He began the inning by walking Waltenbury and serving up a two-run home run to catcher Justin Marra.  That made it 10-6 midway through the 6th.

Kitchener poured it on in the bottom of the 6th.  Andrulis led off with a single, then moved to second and third on a couple of wild pitches by Gray.  Douse walked, and with Baker at the plate, another wild pitch by Gray enabled Andrulis to score.  Baker ended up walking, as did Brouse after him.  That loaded the bases and brought Adam Marra out of the bullpen to relieve Gray.  Marra recorded two outs before hitting Reilly with a pitch, and Douse trotted home.  Whiteside then hit a single that drove in Baker and Brouse, making it 14-6 Panthers through the 6th.

Tamane singled in the 7th, but that was all the offence the Leafs could muster over the final three innings as the Panthers prowled away into the night with a 14-6 FINAL score.


Toronto 6-9-3
Kitchener 14-14-2

W - Rendon (5-1, 3.02)
L - van Pelt (1-4, 8.12)


BOXSCORE


The Mapes hold a 14-14 record and 5th place in the IBL standings.  Their southwestern road trip continues with a game against the London Majors on Friday night, July 15.

Panthers Outpunched at the Pits

Game 28: Kitchener Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs - July 13, 2016

Leafs win 10-7

It was a hot summer night and the Pits were burning, and balls were flying over the fence.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Kitchener Panthers combined for five home runs last night, in a slugfest that ended 10-7 in favour of the home side.

Justin Marra knocked two homers and Johnathan Solazzo smashed one that might still be bouncing down Bloor Street.  

For Kitchener, Justin Interisano hit a grand slam and the IBL's all-time home run king Sean Reilly also hit a round tripper.

The edge in this game was on the mound.  Mike Wagner went the distance for Toronto, giving up three earned runs over nine innings while striking out 10.

Despite the oppressive heat, there was a lively playoff atmosphere at the Pits.  When these two clubs get together they like to bring it.  A boisterous crowd whooped it up after every strikeout as the Leafs pulled off a win against the best team in the league.


Game Recap:


The Toronto Maple Leafs welcomed the league leading Kitchener Panthers to Christie Pits on a hot night in Hogtown.  

Newcomer Mike Wagner made his first start on the mound for Toronto, facing off against David Whiteside for the visitors.

Kitchener loaded the bases in the top of the 1st but Wagner got out of the jam without surrendering a run.

Handing left field duties for the night, Jon Waltenbury got the offence started in the bottom of the 1st when he rapped a double off of Whiteside.  That was quickly followed by catcher Justin Marra's first home run of the night, a two-run blast that gave the Leafs an early 2-0 lead.

Both starters traded scoreless 2nd innings.  

Toronto struck again in the bottom of the 3rd.  Third baseman Johnathan Solazzo and rightfielder Will Richards both singled to start things off.  Second baseman Dan Marra reached safely on a fielding error and loaded the bases.  Solazzo then scored when first baseman Damon Topolie grounded into a double play.  3-0 Toronto through three.

The 4th saw each starter pitch a 1-2-3 inning.

Things went terribly wrong in the top of the 5th.  Kitchener second baseman Mike Andrulis singled to lead off, and leftfielder Jonathan Brouse reached safely on an error by Solazzo.  Wagner got the next two men out, but that brought up IBL home run king Sean Reilly.  The Leafs elected to put Reilly aboard intentionally, bringing first baseman Justin Interisano to the plate with the bases loaded.  The move backfired as Interisano clubbed a grand slam to give the Panthers a 4-3 lead after five innings.

The Leafs recovered and seized control of the game in the bottom of the 6th.  Matt Vickers relieved Whiteside on the mound.  Topolie was up first, and he reached safely on an error.  Shortstop Ryan White singled next, and centerfielder Connor Lewis also singled to load the bases.  A single by Waltenbury cashed in Topolie and White, and a single by Justin Marra scored Lewis.  Vickers' night was over before he recorded an out, and Yuji Suzuki came in from the Kitchener bullpen.  Suzuki got DH Sean Mattson to fly out, but then Solazzo hit a mammoth home run over the centerfield fence.  Three runs came in to score, and by the time the inning was over the Leafs had sent nine men to the plate and made it a 9-4 ballgame.

Wagner repaid his teammates in the top of the 7th, striking out Reilly, Interisano and third baseman Terrell Alliman.  After being rung up by the home plate umpire, Interisano turned and asked him if he was familiar with Zen gardening.  He then demonstrated by drawing a line in the dirt, just wide of the plate.  The umpire seemed to misinterpret the gesture, and tossed Interisano from the game.

Kitchener started a late-game clawback in the top of the 8th.  Andrulis hit a two-out double, and scored on a single by Brouse.  That made it 9-5 Toronto midway through the inning.

Justin Marra got one right back for the Leafs, hitting a solo homer -- his second blast of the night.  That made the score 10-5 with Kitchener down to their final three outs.

The Panthers made a run at it in the 9th.  Wagner returned to the mound looking for a complete game win.  He walked shortstop Colin Gordner to start the inning, and Reilly struck with a two-run homer.  Wagner hunkered down and gave up just one more single before locking down three outs, a complete game and a 10-7 FINAL for Toronto.

Kitchener 7-10-2

Toronto 10-13-1

W - Wagner (1-0, 2.81)

L - Vickers (0-2, 8.02)

BOXSCORE

The Leafs climb above .500 with a 14-13 record, good for 5th place in the IBL standings.  This home-and-home series with Kitchener continues Thursday night, July 14 at Jack Couch Park.