Take Two

Game 10: Guelph Royals at Toronto Maple Leafs, June 3, 2018

Leafs win 11-5

A win there, and a win here.

The Toronto Maple Leafs swept a home-and-home weekend series against the Guelph Royals with an 11-5 win on Sunday at Christie Pits.

Under increasingly grey skies, Zach Sloan took to the mound for his fifth Sunday start of the season, and he served up another win. Sloan went six innings, giving up four earned runs off of seven hits and two walks, while striking out four. It was more than enough, as the Leafs battered Guelph pitching for 14 hits and 11 runs.

It was a rare game at the Pits in that no home runs were hit by either team. Instead, the Leafs relied on speed and big hits to forge the win.

They got things going in the bottom of the second. Shortstop Dan Marra led off with a single off Guelph starter Yomar Concepcion. Rightfielder Daniel Szpik was up next, and he reached first on a grounder that eliminated Marra at second. Centerfielder Connor Lewis then hit a roaring triple to drive in Szpik and put the Leafs on the board first, 1-0 after two.

The Royals jumped into the lead in the top of the third. Sloan gave up a pair of singles, and both runners scored on a two-run single by DH Sean Reilly. 

Toronto reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the third. After third baseman Johnathan Solazzo walked and Dan Marra singled, Szpik reached safely on an error and Solazzo scored. Leftfielder Greg Carrington then stroked a two-hit double to drive in Marra and Szpik. It was Carrington's second double in as many days. As he had the day before in Guelph, Carrington marked it with some stylish air guitar after the play. I want to believe that he's playing the opening lick from "When Doves Cry."

We may never know. Immediately after that, Lewis capped things off with a single that scored Carrington, making it a 5-2 ballgame for the home side.

Bottom of the fourth, two more runs for Toronto. Catcher Mike Reeves walked and first baseman Justin Marra singled. Solazzo followed with a single that plated Reeves. An error and a wild pitch later, Justin crossed the plate and it was a 7-2 lead for the Leafs.

The Royals battled back in the top of the fifth with three runs on three hits and an error.

The Leafs counterpunched in the bottom of the inning with two more runs. Lewis singled, then moved to third on a hit by second baseman Grant Tamane. With Reeves at the plate, Tamane stole second (above). Reeves flew out, but Justin Marra drove in both baserunners with a two-run single. 9-5 home side through five.

Sloan pitched a scoreless sixth before handing the ball over to Nick DaSilva, who gave up a pair of singles but struck out three in the seventh.

Pinch hitter Zac Orchard led off the bottom of the seventh with a single and stolen base. Reeves drove him in with a single to make it a 10-5 ballgame.

DH Marcus Knecht led off the bottom of the eighth for Toronto with a single. He moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Orchard. 11-5 Leafs.

Adam Marra pitched the final two innings for Toronto, giving up just one hit to nail down the 11-5 FINAL. It was a victory driven from the bottom of the order, as Szpik, Carrington, Lewis (and Orchard) combined for six hits and six RBIs. This is what it sounds like, when Royals cry.


Guelph 5-10-2
Toronto 11-14-4

W - Sloan (4-1, 3.21)
L - Concepcion (1-1, 6.56)


BOXSCORE


The Leafs lead the IBL with seven wins to start the season. They will put their 7-3 record up against the Barrie Baycats next on Wednesday night, June 6th at Christie Pits.

Deska Delivers

Game 9: Toronto Maple Leafs at Guelph Royals, June 2, 2018

Leafs win 11-8

Some welcome sights around Hastings Stadium in Guelph yesterday.

A packed parking lot, buzzing grandstand, and fans all over the park there to see the day's action.

First off, the very fact of being in Guelph. The Royals, one of the IBL's charter franchises, folded mid-season last year. Over the winter, they regrouped with a new organization and many familiar faces. Great to see Sean Reilly, Josh Garton, Justin Interisano and Coach Tebo return to their familiar blue and whites.

From a Toronto Maple Leafs perspective, it was great to see the club return to the win column.

Catcher Justin Marra wasted no time establishing the tone of the day in the first inning, hitting a screaming laser home run over the fence in right.

The Leafs doubled their lead in the second inning. First baseman Garrett Takamatsu drew a walk, then advanced to second on a groundout. Rightfielder Greg Carrington drove Takamatsu in with a single and that gave the Leafs a 2-0 lead through two.

On the mound for Toronto, Marek Deska (above) pitched like a man who ate three hot dogs an hour before the game. Efficiency, craft, and quick outs. He faced the minimum through three perfect innings to start the game.

In the top of the fourth, the Leafs doubled their lead again. A single by shortstop Adam Odd was followed by a fielder's choice that left Carrington on first base. A single by centerfielder Connor Lewis moved Carrington to third, and two errors and a wild pitch later, both runners scored to make it 4-0 for the visitors.

The heart of the Guelph order managed to put two runs on the board in the bottom of the fourth, making it a 4-2 game. The score would remain that way through seven innings.

After that brief wobble in the fourth, Deska resumed pitching like a man who needed to be somewhere else. He wrapped up his day after seven, having given up just two runs off of six hits and two walks. That earned him a warm greeting as he left the field.

As the sun finally peeked through the clouds, the bullpens took over for the final two innings. Things suddenly slowed down and got heavy.

In the top of the eighth, leftfielder Grant Tamane walked and DH Mike Reeves singled. Justin Marra was then walked intentionally to load the bases. That brought third baseman Johnathan Solazzo to the plate, and he promptly singled to drive in two. Second baseman Dan Marra followed with a double that scored another run and the Leafs enjoyed a 7-2 lead.

As fans started to fold their chairs and make for the exit gate, the Royals battled back. Jackson Jones took over for Deska to start the bottom of the eighth. He proceeded to walk four batters in a row, gifting one run to the Royals. Manager Damon Topolie called for Andrew Simonetti from the bullpen. Simonetti battled his way out of the inning, but not before three more runs crossed the plate to make it a 7-6 ballgame.

It seemed like the momentum had swung behind Guelph, but disaster befell them in the top of the ninth. Reliever Ben Reid opened the inning by walking Odd, then giving up singles to Carrington and Lewis. He then walked Tamane, which allowed Odd to trot home with a run. Daniel Marquez replaced Reid on the mound and he got Reeves to ground out, but Carrington scored on the play. Justin Marra followed with a single that scored Lewis and put Tamane on third. That brought Solazzo to the plate, and he struck out. However, the ball momentarily got away from Guelph catcher (and former Leaf) Brendan Keys. As Solazzo took off for first, Keys looked at Tamane, then fired to first. The ball sailed for an error and Tamane raced home with another run, making it an 11-6 lead for Toronto.

Simonetti returned to the mound for the bottom of the ninth with a comfy five run lead, but the Royals were going to go down swinging. And swing they did. Garton led off by launching Simonetti's first pitch over the fence in center right. Reilly followed by smashing another homer to the same spot. Unfazed, Simonetti hunkered down and recorded the next three outs in order, and slammed the door shut on an 11-8 FINAL for the Leafs.

After surviving a barrage from the Royals, Simonetti emerged with his second save of the season, giving Deska his first win.

Carrington had the hottest bat of the day for Toronto, going 3 for 5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Solazzo drove in a pair, and Tamane, Reeves, Justin Marra and Dan Marra each drove in one.


Toronto 11-14-1
Guelph 8-10-4

W - Deska (1-0, 3.64)
L - Yambatis (1-1, 2.70)
S - Simonetti (2)


BOXSCORE


These two clubs will face each other again this afternoon at Christie Pits.